Shrink
/ʃrɪŋk/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo become or cause to become smaller in size or amount.
/ʃrɪŋk/
To become or make smaller.
The ice cream melted and shrunk in the sun.
💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite t-shirt. If you accidentally put it in the dryer on high heat, it might SHRINK! That means it gets smaller, like it's trying to hide from you.
👶 For kids: To get smaller.
More Examples
The company decided to shrink its workforce.
The material will shrink if exposed to high temperatures.
How It's Used
"The sweater shrunk in the wash."
"The company is using a new process to shrink the plastic packaging."
To recoil or move back, as from fear, cold, or disgust; to cower.
/ʃrɪŋk/
To recoil or withdraw, typically through fear or embarrassment.
She shrank from the bright lights of the stage.
💡 Simply: Have you ever felt so embarrassed that you wanted to disappear? You might SHRINK from the attention, meaning you try to make yourself seem smaller or avoid the situation completely.
👶 For kids: To move away because you're scared or shy.
More Examples
He shrank under the weight of responsibility.
The child shrank from the stranger's touch.
How It's Used
"He shrank from the confrontation."
"She shrank into herself when criticized."
Informal term for a psychiatrist or psychotherapist.
/ʃrɪŋk/
Informal term for a psychiatrist.
He decided to talk to a shrink about his anxiety.
💡 Simply: Sometimes when people have problems they can't solve on their own, they go to a 'shrink'. It's another word for a doctor who helps people with their feelings and mental health.
👶 For kids: A doctor who helps people with their feelings.
More Examples
She's been seeing a shrink for a couple of years.
The movie depicted a troubled character going to a shrink.
How It's Used
"I'm going to see my shrink tomorrow."
"The character in the movie went to a shrink to deal with his issues."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
shrink back
To move back suddenly in fear or disgust.
"She shrank back from the snarling dog."
From Old English *scrinċan, akin to Old High German scrihhan (“to shrink”), from Proto-Germanic *skrenkwaną (“to shrink”).
The word "shrink" in the sense of a psychiatrist or psychotherapist is a relatively recent slang term, gaining popularity in the 20th century.
Memory tip
Think of a piece of cloth that gets smaller after being washed in hot water.
Word Origin
"to contract, diminish"