Pronunciation: /ˈʃrɪŋkɪŋ/

Definitions of shrinking

verb to become smaller in size or amount

Example Sentences

A1 The wool sweater is shrinking in the wash.

A2 She noticed her savings account was shrinking each month.

B1 The company is shrinking its workforce due to financial difficulties.

B2 The population of the city has been shrinking over the past decade.

C1 The artist's influence is shrinking as newer trends emerge.

C2 The once powerful empire is now shrinking in size and influence.

adjective showing a decrease in size or amount

Example Sentences

A1 The shrinking violet was too timid to speak up in class.

A2 The shrinking economy has led to job losses in the region.

B1 The shrinking population of the town has caused concern among local officials.

B2 The shrinking profit margins forced the company to reevaluate its business strategy.

C1 The shrinking glaciers are a clear indication of the effects of climate change.

C2 The shrinking market share prompted the company to launch a new marketing campaign.

Examples of shrinking in a Sentence

formal The shrinking budget has forced us to make some difficult decisions.

informal I can't believe how fast my bank account is shrinking this month.

slang My patience is shrinking by the minute with this slow service.

figurative Her confidence was shrinking as the presentation went on.

Grammatical Forms of shrinking

past tense

shrank

plural

shrinkings

comparative

more shrinking

superlative

most shrinking

present tense

shrink

future tense

will shrink

perfect tense

have shrunk

continuous tense

is shrinking

singular

shrinking

positive degree

shrink

infinitive

to shrink

gerund

shrinking

participle

shrinking

Origin and Evolution of shrinking

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'shrinking' originated from the Middle English word 'shrinken' which is derived from the Old English word 'scrincan'.
Evolution of the word: Originally used to mean to contract or draw back, the word 'shrinking' has evolved to also describe the process of becoming smaller in size or amount, often due to fear or anxiety.