C1verbhomework
US/ˈdaʊn.saɪz/
UK/ˈdaʊn.saɪz/
to become or make something smaller, especially to move to a smaller home or cut jobs in a company
In context
After the children left home, my parents decided to downsize to a small apartment.
The company had to downsize and lay off about two hundred workers.
Many retired couples downsize to reduce their housing costs.
Words that go with downsize
verb + preposition
- downsize toThey downsized to a one-bedroom apartment.
verb + noun
- downsize the workforceThe firm plans to downsize its workforce.
- downsize operationsThe airline downsized its operations.
- decide to downsizeMany retirees decide to downsize.
adjective + preposition
- forced to downsizeThe company was forced to downsize.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
They downsized their house to smaller.Correct: They downsized to a smaller house.