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🧑‍⚕️ A psychiatrist 📉 To decrease 👕 To get smaller 😨 To move back
to shrink

to shrink

181 2.8
Become less in amount or value
  • verb
  • /ʃrɪŋk/
translation icon : disminuir
  • Over the years, her letters had shrunk to notes and then to nothing.
  • shrinking budgets
  • shrinking demand
  • shrinking markets

It's like you, you shrink the time until you can handle it.

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Examples

  • As the water level decreased, the pool began to shrink in size.

  • Federal contractors face difficult business challenges with shrinking federal procurement budgets and increasing competition.

    Academic text (2017)

  • And the pool continues to shrink the more my world changes.

    The Diary Of A CEO

  • If you want to shrink your problems, grow your purpose.

  • My garage is starting to shrink.

    Trouble with the Curve (2012)

  • Consequently, this New England landscape will shrink in biodiversity.

  • I did not expend all these resources only to see my profits shrink.

    Sahara (2005)

  • The window for such cooperation is rapidly shrinking as countries build up their sovereignty in the Arctic.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The economic downturn caused many companies to shrink their workforce to cut costs.

  • If you spend less than you earn, your savings will gradually shrink over time.

Synonyms

to reduce
vsto shrink
∞ 1.6

To make something smaller in amount, size, or number

is the general decrease sense that includes value and extent
to decrease
vsto shrink
325 2.0

To make something smaller in amount or size

is the same reducing idea but also stresses value or extent change
to go down
vsto shrink
321 1.9

To become less in amount, size, or value

is the same falling idea but also includes active making smaller
to diminish
vsto shrink
201 3.7

To become less in size, importance, or value

focuses more on reducing amount, value, or overall extent
to compress
vsto shrink
94 3.7

To press something so it takes less space

covers decreasing size without requiring pressing or compacting
to dwindle
vsto shrink
72 5.1

To become smaller or less in number over time

is the general act of making smaller, not only a natural fading
to cut down
vsto shrink
65 2.7

To make something smaller in amount or number

is the general decreasing process not limited to deliberate acts
to shorten
vsto shrink
45 2.3

Make something shorter, for example an article, skirt, or route

refers to decrease in amount, value, or extent rather than time only
to lessen
vsto shrink
34 2.8

To make something smaller in amount or strength

is the broader decrease that also covers size and value reductions
to deflate
vsto shrink
20 4.6

To make someone feel less confident or important

is the plain decrease idea without the emotional lowering effect
to taper
vsto shrink
18 4.2

To become gradually less in size or amount

is a decrease sense that can be sudden as well as gradual
to resize
vsto shrink
  • Specialized
11 3.2

To change the size of something, for example a picture or window, to make it fit better

describes decrease generally without the adjustment or fitting focus
to whittle down
vsto shrink
10 5.1

To make a list or group smaller by removing items over time

is the general decrease sense that can be sudden or quick
to pare down
vsto shrink
9 4.4

Make something smaller by removing parts you do not need

covers decrease broadly without focusing on essentials or steps
to scale down
vsto shrink
8 4.0

To make something smaller in size or amount

means decrease broadly without stressing proportional resizing
to downsize
vsto shrink
8 4.1

Make something smaller, like a product or living space

is the broad decrease sense not tied to organizations specifically
to trim down
vsto shrink
3 3.4

To make something smaller by cutting or removing parts

means decrease in general, not necessarily by cutting away parts
to step down
vsto shrink
3 4.3

Reduce something to a lower level, for example power or voltage

is the general decrease without implying formal stepwise reduction
to whittle away
vsto shrink
3 5.9

To make something smaller gradually by cutting or wearing it away

is the broader decrease not limited to small physical removals
to dwindle away
vsto shrink
1 4.6

Slowly get smaller in number or amount until nothing remains

describes decrease without implying near total disappearance
to downscale
vsto shrink
1 4.3

Make something smaller or cheaper to save money

is a general reduction in amount, value, or extent
to dwindle down
vsto shrink
1 5.1

To become slowly smaller or less until almost nothing remains

is the broader decrease meaning without the near disappearance focus
to minify
vsto shrink
1 8.4

To make something smaller so it uses less space or time

is the general decrease sense without implying a simple action

Antonyms

to grow
∞ 1.0

Become larger or more physically mature

Phrasal Verbs

to shrink from
7 5.1

Avoid doing something difficult or unpleasant because you are afraid

to shrink back
  • Informal
1 4.7

Move away because you are afraid or disgusted

Compounds

shrink ray
1 9.9

A made-up machine that makes people or things much smaller

shrink-wrap
1 3.2

A thin clear plastic film that shrinks when heated around products

shrink-wrapped software
5.2

Software sold in a box and sealed in clear plastic for use on computers

shrink-wrap
  • Jargon
6.8

A set of terms included with a product that you must accept before use

How Much

to disappear
∞ 1.0
to shrink
181 2.8
to dwindle
72 5.1
to decline
344 3.7

Surface Forms

shrink infinitive
shrinking present participle
shrinks third person singular
shrank past
shrunk past participle

Etymology

Shrink keeps the same idea from the old root scrincan of 'getting smaller', but for amounts or value. So when a market or number shrinks, it becomes less in size or amount.