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⇱ shrink - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

shrink

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈʃrɪŋk/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ʃrɪŋk/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(shringk)

Inflections of 'shrink' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
shrinks
v 3rd person singular
shrinking
v pres p
shrank
v past
shrunk
v past (Nonstandard)
shrunk
v past p
shrunken
v past p (Rare)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
shrink /ʃrɪŋk/USA pronunciation   v., shrank /ʃræŋk/USA pronunciation  or, often, shrunk /ʃrʌŋk/USA pronunciation ; shrunk or shrunk•en /ˈʃrʌŋkən/USA pronunciation ;
shrink•ing, n. 
v. 
  1. to (cause to) contract or lessen in size: [no object]clothes that shrink if washed in hot water.[~ + object]Hot water will shrink some of those clothes.
  2. to (cause to) become reduced in extent, amount, or value: [no object]The bank's resources are shrinking.[~ + object]Inflation and taxation are shrinking our resources.
  3. to draw back;
    move back suddenly, as in horror:[no object;(~ + back)]to shrink from danger; She shrank back in her seat as the horror movie got even nastier.

n. [countable]
  1. Slang Termsa psychotherapist, psychiatrist, or psychoanalyst.
shrink•a•ble, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
shrink  (shringk),USA pronunciation v., shrank or, often, shrunk;
shrunk or shrunk•en;
shrink•ing;
 n. 
v.i. 
  1. to draw back, as in retreat or avoidance:to shrink from danger; to shrink from contact.
  2. to contract or lessen in size, as from exposure to conditions of temperature or moisture:This cloth will not shrink if washed in lukewarm water.
  3. to become reduced in extent or compass.

v.t. 
  1. to cause to shrink or contract;
    reduce.
  2. Textilesto cause (a fabric) to contract during finishing, thus preventing shrinkage, during laundering, of the garments made from it.

n. 
  1. an act or instance of shrinking.
  2. a shrinking movement.
  3. shrinkage.
  4. Slang TermsAlso, shrinker. Also called head shrinker. a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, or psychoanalyst.
  • bef. 900; 1955–60 for def. 9; Middle English schrinken, Old English scrincan; cognate with Middle Dutch schrinken, Swedish skrynka to shrink, Norwegian skrukka old shrunken woman
shrink′a•ble, adj. 
shrink′ing•ly, adv. 
    1. withdraw, recoil, quail. See wince. 3. See decrease. 
    3. increase.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
shrink /ʃrɪŋk/ vb (shrinks, shrinking, shrank, shrunk, shrunk, shrunken)
  1. to contract or cause to contract as from wetness, heat, cold, etc
  2. to become or cause to become smaller in size
  3. (intransitive) often followed by from:
    • to recoil or withdraw: to shrink from the sight of blood
    • to feel great reluctance (at)
 n
  1. the act or an instance of shrinking
  2. slang a psychiatrist
Etymology: Old English scrincan; related to Old Norse skrokkr torso, Old Swedish skrunkin wrinkled, Old Norse hrukka a crease, Icelandic skrukka wrinkled womanˈshrinkable adj ˈshrinker n ˈshrinking adj
'shrink' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: shrink-resistant [fabrics, clothing, garments, shirts], shrinkage-free [garments, clothes, shirts], slang: you [should, need to] see a shrink!, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "shrink" in the title:

downsize, shrink, restrict
has your mind been shrink-wrapped?
I got her to a shrink
make your brain shrink, become restless and forgetful
My hair shrink up
My <shrink> told me
NAS shrink
Nuclear power looks to shrink its way to success
Please shrink the bottle before putting <it> in the rubbish bin
Pronunciation: Sh in shrink and schwa
seeing its economy shrink by a quarter over two years
shrink
Shrink - Psychiatrist or/and psychologist?
shrink away to nothing
shrink by
shrink combined
Shrink from - turn away- flinch- duck - dodge -shy away from
shrink from arrogance
shrink in
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shrink its body
Shrink rap
Shrink the appearance of pores
shrink the image
Shrink wrap- BE?
shrink-wrapped
shrink-wrapped cookies
shrink-wrapped in tears
Shrink, shrinker
stretch and shrink(squeeze) exercises
more...

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