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

John Krasinski and Emily Blunt appear to have downsized their Brooklyn Heights suite of apartments. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 15 Oct. 2026

The primary market is adults who want to downsize large one-family houses and relocate to a home expressly designed for seniors. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 14 Oct. 2026

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

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