shrink
word
Definition
To become smaller in size, amount, or value, or to make something smaller. It is often used for clothes after washing, but also for numbers, spaces, and businesses.
Usage & Nuances
Common collocations: 'shrink in the wash', 'shrink dramatically', 'the economy is shrinking'. For clothes, 'shrink' usually means becoming smaller by accident. In business or statistics, it often refers to gradual reduction. As a noun, informal 'shrink' can mean a psychiatrist or therapist.
Example Sentences
When I walked into the huge office, I felt like I shrunk to half my size.
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The company shrunk last year.
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My sweater shrunk after I washed it.
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The ice will shrink in the sun.
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I think these jeans shrunk in the dryer.
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Our budget keeps shrinking, so we have to be careful.
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