contract

1 to become affected with (a disease or disorder) before vaccines were invented, people lived in fear of contracting polio Synonyms catch, come down (with), get, go down (with) [chiefly British], sicken (with), take Related Words break out (with); die (from), succumb (to); fail, languish, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither, worsen Near Antonyms come back, gain, heal, mend, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back; rally, rebound, recover (from), shake (off)

2 to become smaller in size or volume through the drawing together of particles of matter metal contracts at low temperatures Synonyms compress, condense, constrict, shrink 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) Antonyms balloon, expand, snowball, swell

3 to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together contract the calf muscles in your legs Synonyms capsule, capsulize, collapse, compact, condense, constrict, constringe, compress, narrow (down), squeeze, telescopeRelated Words cram, crowd, jam, jam-pack, pack; abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten; boil down, downsize, shrink; concentrate, consolidate; simplify, streamline; decrease, diminish, lessenNear Antonyms dilate, disperse, dissipate, scatter; distend, inflate, swellAntonyms decompress, expand, open, outspread, outstretch

4 to come to an arrangement as to a course of action the farmer contracted for delivery of the hay by the first of July Synonyms bargain, agree, covenantRelated Words come around, come round; subscribe, underwrite; arrange, settleNear Antonyms differ, dissent; cancel, renege, revoke; argue, contest, dispute, objectAntonyms disagree