shrink

verb \ ˈshriŋk , especially Southern ˈsriŋk \

|Updated on: 9 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

But this reflects the denominator rising, not the numerator shrinking: investment relative to GDP is in line with 1990s levels.

— The Economist, "Six muddles about share buy-backs," 31 May 2018
The allotments are transferred directly from district schools to the charter schools, shrinking the district public school budgets.

— valerie strauss, Washington Post, "What and who is fueling the movement to privatize public education — and why you should care," 30 May 2018
But lately, bolstered by geopolitical risks to supply and shrinking global stockpiles, crude-oil prices have been marching north with little regard for a stronger U.S. currency.

— christopher alessi, WSJ, "For Oil Prices, Political Risks Dwarf the Dollar," 29 May 2018
The massive Columbia Glacier has retreated more than 12 miles in that time, its thickness and volume shrunk by half.

— nancy lord, Anchorage Daily News, "In ‘A Wild Promise,’ a wilderness area in limbo and a book with a mission," 19 May 2018
From 2007 to 2011, the ice sheet shrunk by about 290 billion tons per year.

— bridget alex, Discover Magazine, "Something Stirs: What Will Happen as Permafrost Thaws?," 15 May 2018
Traders expressed fear that American sanctions would cut Iranian oil exports, shrinking supplies in an already tight market.

— thomas erdbrink, New York Times, "Iran May Step Up Nuclear Program, Supreme Leader Says," 9 May 2018
But there are very legitimate concerns that shrinking the field of wireless competitors could end up hurting consumers and raising prices.

— chris welch, The Verge, "What a combined T-Mobile and Sprint would look like," 30 Apr. 2018
Instead, the company has taken a different tack: shrinking hundreds of stores in its 1,160-location fleet from 90,000 square feet or so to 60,000 or so.

— phil wahba, Fortune, "What Retailers Can Learn From Kohl's Small Store Strategy," 2 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

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
Bowhead whales in Alaska's Arctic waters appear to be thriving even as sea ice shrinks, offering a counterpoint to climate-change concerns that have prompted federal threatened status for some other northern animals such as polar bears.

— alex demarban, Anchorage Daily News, "Bowhead whales, dwellers of icy seas, enjoy steady growth off Alaska in the age of climate change," 13 May 2018
Small colleges are increasingly vulnerable to closure as the population of 18-year-olds shrinks.

— yvonne abraham, BostonGlobe.com, "A hard lesson at Mount Ida," 25 Apr. 2018
That seemed to suit Mr. Murdoch well, allowing him to retain some of his powers at an enlarged Disney even as his own kingdom shrinks.

— elizabeth winkler, WSJ, "Comcast Crashes Disney’s Fox Hunt, But Victory Isn’t Assured," 8 May 2018
During droughts, this snow reserve shrinks, affecting water availability in the state.

— lauren tierney, Washington Post, "Precipitation whiplash and climate change threaten California’s freshwater," 9 May 2018
The number of older employees is climbing as the unemployment rate shrinks and companies in some sectors clamor for workers.

— robert weisman, BostonGlobe.com, "For many high-octane professionals, retirement is not an option," 2 May 2018
Bear lumbers through life heedless of his impact; Pinch shrinks, unable to escape the giant’s shadow, hoping only to avoid being trampled underfoot.

— The Economist, "The damage overbearing fathers do to sons," 22 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of shrink

1590

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

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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shrink

Definition of shrink

shrinkable

shrinker

Examples of shrink in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of shrink

shrink Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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Synonym Discussion of shrink

shrink

Definition of shrink

Examples of shrink in a Sentence

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First Known Use of shrink

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SHRINK Defined for English Language Learners

shrink

Definition of shrink for English Language Learners

shrink

Definition of shrink for English Language Learners

SHRINK Defined for Kids

shrink

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Medical Dictionary

shrink

medical Definition of shrink

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