B2verbhomeenvironment
US/ʃrɪŋk/
UK/ʃrɪŋk/
to become smaller, or to make something smaller, especially clothes after washing
In context
Wash this cotton T-shirt in cold water, or it will shrink.
The number of farmers in the area keeps shrinking as young people move to the city.
Glaciers around the world are shrinking faster than scientists expected.
Words that go with shrink
verb + preposition
- shrink in the washCotton clothes often shrink in the wash.
- shrink fromShe never shrinks from hard decisions.
- shrink byOur profits could shrink by ten percent this year.
verb + adverb
- shrink rapidlyLakes can shrink rapidly during a long drought.
adjective + noun
- shrinking economyA shrinking economy means fewer jobs.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
My shirt was shrinked.Correct: My shirt shrank. / My shirt has shrunk.