Shrinking
ˈʃrɪŋkɪŋ
Definitions
2 meaningsThe act of becoming or causing something to become smaller in size, amount, or extent.
ˈʃrɪŋkɪŋ
becoming or causing to become smaller.
The ice cream melted, and the portion was shrinking.
💡 Simply: Imagine a balloon getting smaller and smaller when you let the air out. That's like shrinking. It's when things get less big.
👶 For kids: Getting smaller, like when you wash a shirt in hot water.
More Examples
The population of the town has been shrinking over the last decade.
As the economy declined, the company began shrinking its operations.
How It's Used
"The company is shrinking its workforce due to economic downturn."
"The doctor is concerned about the shrinking of the brain in the elderly patient."
Describes something that is undergoing a reduction in size or extent.
ˈʃrɪŋkɪŋ
Becoming or being reduced in size.
The shrinking budget meant fewer resources available.
💡 Simply: It means something is already getting smaller, like when the beach gets smaller as the tide goes out.
👶 For kids: When something is getting smaller, like a balloon losing air.
More Examples
The shrinking population worried the local authorities.
We are observing shrinking Arctic ice.
He observed a shrinking amount of food in the fridge.
How It's Used
"Shrinking profits caused a shift in management strategy."
"The shrinking glaciers are a key indicator of global warming."
Synonyms & Antonyms
From Middle English *shrinken, from Old English *scrincan (weak verb) and Old English *scringan (strong verb); both Proto-Germanic *skrinkwaną and *skrenganą, from Proto-Indo-European *skr-e/o-gʷ-. Cognate with German schrinken (to shrink).
The verb 'shrink' has been used since the 13th century to describe the action of contracting or diminishing.
Memory tip
Think of a shirt going into a hot dryer.
Word Origin
"To contract, to dwindle."