shrink

verb \ ˈshriŋk , especially Southern ˈsriŋk \

Definition of shrink

shrank play \ˈshraŋk, ˈsraŋk\ or shrunk play \ˈshrəŋk, ˈsrəŋk\; shrunk or shrunken play \ˈshrəŋ-kən, ˈsrəŋ-\; shrinking

intransitive verb

1 :to contract or curl up the body or part of it :huddle, cower

2 a :to contract to less extent or compass

b :to become smaller or more compacted

c :to lose substance or weight

d :to lessen in value :dwindle

3 a :to recoil instinctively (as from something painful or horrible)

shrank from the challenge

b :to hold oneself back :refrain

did not shrink from telling the truth

transitive verb

:to cause to contract or shrink; specifically :to compact (cloth) by causing to contract when subjected to washing, boiling, steaming, or other processes

—

shrinkable

play \ˈshriŋ-kə-bəl, ˈsriŋ-\ adjective

—

shrinker

noun

See shrink defined for English-language learners

See shrink defined for kids

Examples of shrink in a Sentence

The sweater shrank when it was washed.
Meat shrinks as it cooks.
The town's population shrank during the war.
Hot water shrank the sweater.
The treatment should shrink the tumor.
He shrank in horror when he saw the dead cat.

Recent Examples of shrink from the Web

Overview Seattle is still the team to beat in the NFC West, although the talent gap of talent has shrunk has reduced considerably.

— david humphrey, star-telegram, "A team-by-team preview of the 2017 NFL season," 25 Aug. 2017
Since 2014, the country’s economy has shrunk by more than a third.

— adam k. raymond, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Administration Imposes New Economic Sanctions on Venezuela," 25 Aug. 2017
Though still a majority, the city’s white population was shrinking — from 73 percent in 1960 to 66 percent in 1970.

— david gambacorta, Philly.com, "Was Frank Rizzo racist, or a product of his time?," 22 Aug. 2017
The Locals (Random House) shrinks class warfare down to size.

— sloane crosley, vanityfair.com, "What to Read This Month: Katy Tur’s Unbelievable, Claire Messud’s The Burning Girl, and More," 14 Aug. 2017
A huge swath of humans will feel their spot in the universe shrink.

— sarah scoles, Discover Magazine, "Eclipse 2017: Mind Melt," 7 Aug. 2017
In Minnesota, which has been hit in the past with large increases, some consumers could see their premiums shrink by as much as 15 percent, while others could pay 11 percent more.

— anna gorman, Kaiser Health News, "Covered California Expects 12.5% Average Rate Rise In 2018," 2 Aug. 2017
Two years after the release of the Xbox One controller wireless adapter, Microsoft has finally found a way to shrink the damn thing down to a normal size.

— hayden dingman, PCWorld, "Microsoft's Xbox controller wireless adapter for PCs isn't gigantic anymore," 2 Aug. 2017
Because refrigerators rattle, the cork will shrink.

— sarah solomon, Town & Country, "An Etiquette Guide to Champagne and Oysters," 28 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shrink.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of shrink

Middle English, from Old English scrincan; akin to Middle Dutch schrinken to draw back

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

shrink Synonyms

Synonyms

compress, condense, constrict, contract

Antonyms

balloon, expand, snowball, swell

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)

Synonym Discussion of shrink

contract, shrink, condense, compress, constrict, deflate mean to decrease in bulk or volume. contract applies to a drawing together of surfaces or particles or a reduction of area or length.

- caused her muscles to contract

shrink implies a contracting or a loss of material and stresses a falling short of original dimensions.

- the sweater will shrink when washed

condense implies a reducing of something homogeneous to greater compactness without significant loss of content.

- condense the essay into a paragraph

compress implies a pressing into a small compass and definite shape usually against resistance.

- compressed cotton into bales

constrict implies a tightening that reduces diameter.

- the throat is constricted by a tight collar

deflate implies a contracting by reducing the internal pressure of contained air or gas.

- deflate the balloon

recoil, shrink, flinch, wince, blench, quail mean to draw back in fear or distaste. recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.

- recoiled at the suggestion of stealing

shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.

- shrank from the unpleasant truth

flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution.

- faced her accusers without flinching

wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling).

- winced in pain

blench implies fainthearted flinching.

- stood their ground without blenching

quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.

- quailed before the apparition

shrink

noun

Definition of shrink

1 :the act of shrinking

2 :shrinkage

[short for headshrinker]

:a clinical psychiatrist or psychologist

See shrink defined for English-language learners

Examples of shrink in a Sentence

He is seeing a shrink.

Recent Examples of shrink from the Web

Over high heat, the proteins in the meat shrink and squeeze out moisture and the meat becomes dry.

— noelle carter, sacbee, "Don’t try to ad lib when you cook ribs," 15 Aug. 2017
Over high heat, the proteins in the meat shrink and squeeze out moisture and the meat becomes dry.

— noelle carter, sacbee, "Don’t try to ad lib when you cook ribs," 15 Aug. 2017
Over high heat, the proteins in the meat shrink and squeeze out moisture and the meat becomes dry.

— noelle carter, charlotteobserver, "These tips will help you cook ribs like a pro," 25 July 2017
Black Goliath, a scientist who grows rather than shrinks.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "Why Is Marvel the Only Studio Still Doing Comic-Con’s Hall H Right?," 22 July 2017
Without water in the substrate, alluvial soil shrinks and subsides, leading to a sinking city.

— richard rainey, NOLA.com, "NOLA Votes 2017: What to know and ask candidates about Hurricane Katrina's legacy," 6 July 2017
Biggest worry: The dwindling supply of teachers, as enrollment in colleges of education shrinks.

— ann doss helms, charlotteobserver, "Final lessons from Ann Clark on CMS educators, critics and the kids who threw chairs," 21 June 2017
That year also would see Elgin begin applying original artwork to utility boxes, using graffiti-proof shrink wrap, Harris said.

— mike danahey, Elgin Courier-News, "City plans to unveil sculpture, mural in downtown Elgin this fall," 20 June 2017
That year also would see Elgin begin applying original artwork to utility boxes, using graffiti-proof shrink wrap to protect it from vandals, Harris said.

— mike danahey, Elgin Courier-News, "Elgin paints a public art plan," 15 June 2017

First Known Use of shrink

1590

SHRINK Defined for English Language Learners

shrink

verb

Definition of shrink for English Language Learners

: to become smaller in amount, size, or value
: to make (something) smaller in amount, size, or value
: to quickly move away from something shocking, frightening, or disgusting

shrink

noun

Definition of shrink for English Language Learners

: a psychiatrist or psychologist

SHRINK Defined for Kids

shrink

verb \ ˈshriŋk \

Definition of shrink for Students

shrank \ˈshraŋk\ or shrunk \ˈshrəŋk\; shrunk or shrunken \ˈshrəŋ-kən\; shrinking

1 :to make or become smaller

The sweater shrank when it got wet.

2 :to curl up or move back in or as if in fear or pain

Just the thought of all this made Tom shrink back uncomfortably in his chair.
—Andrew Clements, Frindle

3 :to refrain from doing something especially because of difficulty or unpleasantness

He did not shrink from telling the truth.

Medical Dictionary

shrink

noun \ ˈshriŋk \

medical Definition of shrink

:a clinical psychiatrist or psychologist — called also headshrinker

Learn More about shrink

See words that rhyme with shrink Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shrink Spanish Central: Translation of shrink Nglish: Translation of shrink for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of shrink for Arabic speakers

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shrinker

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shrink

Definition of shrink

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SHRINK Defined for English Language Learners

shrink

Definition of shrink for English Language Learners

shrink

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shrink

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