shrink

verb \ ˈshriŋk , especially Southern ˈsriŋk \

|Updated on: 23 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: shrink in a Sentence

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

And with audiences in North America steadily shrinking – movie attendance fell to a 22-year low in 2017 – Chinese moviegoers have never been more important to Hollywood.

— michael holtz, The Christian Science Monitor, "In China, US films struggle against homegrown movies," 19 June 2018
Auto manufacturing jobs continue to shrink as companies automate and build plants outside the U.S. Asian and European automakers and suppliers, which employ more than half the autoworkers in this country, have kept unions out of U.S. plants.

— phoebe wall howard, Detroit Free Press, "UAW members meet to vote on dues, elect new leaders," 11 June 2018
As the years pile up, the Williams sisters’ peer group on tour continues to shrink.

— christopher clarey, New York Times, "On the Doubles Court, Venus and Serena Williams Make Time Stand Still," 1 June 2018
This time of the year, that category of darkness is quite small and continues to shrink.

— dave epstein, BostonGlobe.com, "Good news: 8 p.m. sunsets begin this week," 17 May 2018
Otherwise its piece of the pie will continue to shrink, and Uber will go from ride-sharing giant to just another bit player in a crowded market.

— andrew j. hawkins, The Verge, "Uber CEO: our future won’t just be cars," 15 May 2018
Two studies out in the past week show that key revenue sources at public and private universities continue to shrink without any immediate signs of slowing.

— jeffrey j. selingo, Washington Post, "The financial forecast for colleges is gloomy. How can they weather the storm?," 4 May 2018
That said, as labor market conditions continue to tighten and the pool of skilled workers on the sidelines continue to shrink, future monthly hiring gains are likely to slow from the current hiring pace.

— bloomberg news, OregonLive.com, "Hiring rebounds, U.S. jobless rate falls to 3.9 percent," 4 May 2018
Puerto Rico’s population is expected to continue to shrink.

— CNN, "Estimating departures from Puerto Rico," 21 Apr. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

shrink Synonyms

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

Perhaps the apt comparison here is to Woody Allen, reconfiguring his idea of Jewish misfortune as wryness and working it out with a shrink.

— constance grady, Vox, "Your guide to the 17 most important nominees at this year’s Tonys," 7 June 2018
Again, access to transportation improves a little in the Northern Hemisphere and a lot in the Southern Hemisphere, but the total energy shrinks.

— scott k. johnson, Ars Technica, "Want to halt global warming and raise living standards? Get efficient," 5 June 2018
As the moisture slowly evaporates, the meat shrinks and its texture changes, becoming soft, silky, and tender.

— ruth reichl, Town & Country, "The Best Hamburgers Start with Dry-Aged Beef," 28 May 2018
As treatment costs soar and insurance coverage shrinks, hospitals and patient advocates around the U.S. are rushing to offer more help to patients like Rizo, who had no financial counseling.

— tom murphy, chicagotribune.com, "Cancer patients are twice as likely to declare bankruptcy," 22 May 2018
As treatment costs soar and insurance coverage shrinks, hospitals and patient advocates around the U.S. are rushing to offer more help to patients like Rizo, who had no financial counseling.

— Washington Post, "Many cancer patients juggle care along with financial pain," 22 May 2018
Here’s the other area the growing 1500 shrinks other numbers.

— scott sturgis, Philly.com, "2019 Ram 1500 - bigger, faster, hungrier," 28 Apr. 2018
Not only have total originations of new loans declined as the refinance market shrinks because of rising interest rates, but many lenders could be staring at red ink and staff layoffs, as well.

— kenneth r. harney, miamiherald, "Homebuyers can reap bargains thanks to growing lender competition," 4 June 2018
As America’s share of world output shrinks, a shift to a mix of reserve currencies is, eventually, probable.

— The Economist, "America must use sanctions cautiously," 19 May 2018