shrink
/ˈʃɹɪŋk/ verb B2- To cause to become smaller. · The dryer shrank my sweater.
- To become smaller; to contract. · This garment will shrink when wet.
- To cower or flinch. · Molly shrank away from the blows of the whip.
- To draw back; to withdraw.
- To withdraw or retire, as from danger.
- To move back or away, especially because of fear or disgust.
He/she/it shrinks · Past shrank · Past participle shrunk · -ing form shrinking
Verb forms
- Base form
- shrink
- He/she/it
- shrinks
- Past
- shrank
- Past participle
- shrunk
- -ing form
- shrinking
An irregular verb: learn its past and past participle by heart.
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
Anne laid her hat and jacket away, and shrank miserably into a corner.
You shall live like a princess.” Poor Alice was so frightened that she shrunk away from him, but he caught her by the wrist and endeavoured to draw her towards the door.
But there, _she_ wouldn’t shrink from adopting a whole orphan asylum if she took it into her head.”
By the time they arrived at the house Matthew was shrinking from the approaching revelation with an energy he did not understand.
Other matches
Learn shrink in real texts
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