downsize

verb

down·​size ˈdau̇n-ˌsīz 

downsized; downsizing; downsizes

transitive verb

1

: to reduce in size

especially : to design or produce in smaller size

2

: to fire (employees) for the purpose of downsizing a business

intransitive verb

: to undergo a reduction in size

Synonyms of downsize

• reduce
• decrease

Examples of downsize in a Sentence

They have downsized the car's engine in the new model.

The company is planning to downsize next year.

The company will be downsized next year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Conservatives have talked for years about the need to downsize the federal leviathan. — Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026

After strong public and state lawmaker pushback, the facility is still being built, but downsized. — William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2026

That larger beach house freed her from the need for a big city place, and so, like many empty nesters, the couple decided to downsize. — Michael Boodro, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026

After her daughter and son grew up, Saint and her husband downsized to a stylish, art-laden condominium in Westwood in the mid-1970s. — Valerie J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for downsize

• advise
• applies
• apprise
• arise
• assize
• baptize
• belies
• bitwise
• capsize
• chastise
• chordwise
• clockwise

Kids Definition

downsize

verb

down·​size ˈdau̇n-ˌsīz 

: to reduce in size

the company downsized its staff to cut costs