shrank: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral; common in both spoken and written English.
Quick answer
What does “shrank” mean?
The past tense of the verb 'shrink', meaning to become smaller in size, quantity, or extent.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The past tense of the verb 'shrink', meaning to become smaller in size, quantity, or extent.
It can also refer to the act of withdrawing or recoiling from something out of fear, disgust, or reluctance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use 'shrank' as the standard simple past form. The variant 'shrunk' for the simple past is more common in informal American usage but is still considered non-standard.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Slightly more formal adherence to 'shrank' in British English. The informal 'shrunk' as past tense is more frequently encountered in American speech.
Grammar
How to Use “shrank” in a Sentence
Subject + shrank (intransitive)Subject + shrank + Adjunct (from something/back/away)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shrank” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The wool jumper shrank when I washed it at 40 degrees.
- She shrank back from the snarling dog.
- The company's profits shrank after the policy change.
- He visibly shrank from the responsibility.
American English
- My jeans shrank in the dryer.
- The town's population shrank after the factory closed.
- He shrank away from making eye contact.
- The budget shrank by a third.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common in reporting figures: 'Our market share shrank by 5% last quarter.'
Academic
Used in scientific or economic contexts: 'The glacier shrank at an unprecedented rate.'
Everyday
Most common for clothing: 'My new jumper shrank in the wash.'
Technical
In medicine/biology: 'The tumour shrank after treatment.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shrank”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shrank”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shrank”
- Using 'shrinked' (incorrect).
- Using 'shrunk' as the simple past in formal writing (e.g., 'Yesterday it shrunk').
- Confusing 'shrank' (size) with 'sank' (depth).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Shrank' is the standard simple past tense ('It shrank yesterday'). 'Shrunk' is the past participle, used with auxiliaries ('It has shrunk'). In informal American English, 'shrunk' is sometimes used for the simple past.
Yes, both physically ('He shrank with age') and metaphorically to describe recoiling or becoming less confident ('She shrank from the argument').
In everyday language, it most frequently collocates with clothing and fabrics ('shrank in the wash') and with economic terms ('the economy shrank').
No, 'shrinked' is not a standard English word. The correct forms are shrink (present), shrank (past), shrunk (past participle).
The past tense of the verb 'shrink', meaning to become smaller in size, quantity, or extent.
Shrank is usually neutral; common in both spoken and written english. in register.
Shrank: in British English it is pronounced /ʃræŋk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ʃræŋk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “shrank from the task (avoided it due to fear)”
- “shrank into oneself (became timid or withdrawn)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'a' in 'shrank' as in the past: 'The bank shrank my savings.'
Conceptual Metaphor
FEAR IS WITHDRAWAL (He shrank from the confrontation). LOSS IS SHRINKING (His confidence shrank).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'shrank' correctly?