# shrink

/ˈʃɹɪŋk/ (US) · /ʃɹˈɪŋk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shrink
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to become smaller

verb · CEFR B1

to become smaller in size, often because of heat or water.

For teachers: to become smaller in size or amount, particularly in reference to fabric contracting after washing.

- Be careful not to wash that wool sweater in hot water or it will shrink.
- The company's profit margins began to shrink as global competition drove down the market price of their flagship product.

### 2. to move back in fear

verb · CEFR B2

to move away from something because you are scared or find it unpleasant.

For teachers: to recoil or draw back physically or mentally from something perceived as dangerous or disgusting.

- The child seemed to shrink away from the loud, barking dog.
- She did not shrink from the challenge, despite knowing that the legal battle would likely last for several years.

### 3. a psychiatrist

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

a casual and sometimes slightly rude word for a doctor who treats mental health.

For teachers: a slang term for a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, derived from the idea of 'head-shrinking'.

- He decided to see a shrink to talk about his stress at work.
- The protagonist in the film spends most of the first act complaining to his shrink about his recurring nightmares.

Teaching tip: While common in movies and TV, some people find this term disrespectful; use 'therapist' in professional settings.

### 4. inventory loss

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the loss of products from a shop because of theft or damage.

For teachers: the loss of inventory between the point of manufacture or purchase and the point of sale, typically due to theft or administrative error.

- The shop owner was worried about the high amount of shrink this month.
- Retailers are investing heavily in AI-driven surveillance to combat the rising costs associated with inventory shrink.

Usage: In a business context, this is often used as an uncountable noun.

## Examples

- My favorite wool sweater started to shrink after I washed it.
- The company's market share began to shrink as more competitors entered the industry with lower prices.
- Economists warn that the national workforce will continue to shrink unless the government introduces new policies to encourage immigration or support larger families.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.