contract

contract

verb

Definition of CONTRACT

1

to become affected with (a disease or disorder) <before vaccines were invented, people lived in fear of contracting polio>

Synonyms catch, come down (with), get, go down (with) [chiefly British], sicken (with), take

Related Words break out (with); die (from), succumb (to); fail, languish, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither, worsen

Near Antonyms come back, gain, heal, mend, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back; rally, rebound, recover (from), shake (off)

2

to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter <metal contracts at low temperatures>

Synonyms compress, condense, constrict, shrink

Related Words collapse, deflate, flatten; dry up, shrivel, wilt, wither; abate, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen; recede, retreat, withdraw

Near Antonyms accumulate, grow, increase; balloon, inflate, puff (up)

Antonyms balloon, expand, snowball, swell

3

to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together <contract the calf muscles in your legs>

Synonyms capsule, capsulize, collapse, compact, condense, constrict, constringe, contract, narrow (down), squeeze, telescope

Related Words cram, crowd, jam, jam-pack, pack; abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten; boil down, downsize, shrink; concentrate, consolidate; simplify, streamline; decrease, diminish, lessen

Near Antonyms dilate, disperse, dissipate, scatter; distend, inflate, swell

Antonyms decompress, expand, open, outspread, outstretch

4

to come to an arrangement as to a course of action <the farmer contracted for delivery of the hay by the first of July>

Synonyms bargain, contract, covenant

Related Words come around, come round; subscribe, underwrite; arrange, settle

Near Antonyms differ, dissent; cancel, renege, revoke; argue, contest, dispute, object

Antonyms disagree