# shrinking

/ˈʃɹɪŋkɪŋ/ (US) · /ʃɹˈɪŋkɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shrinking
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. getting smaller

adjective · CEFR B2

becoming smaller in size, amount, or value.

For teachers: undergoing a reduction in physical dimensions, volume, or quantity.

- The company is struggling to survive in a shrinking market.
- The shrinking polar ice caps serve as a stark visual indicator of the accelerating pace of global climate change.

### 2. shy and timid

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

very shy and modest; someone who does not want to be noticed.

For teachers: tending to avoid notice or attention; characterized by extreme shyness or modesty.

- He was no shrinking violet and always spoke his mind in meetings.
- Despite her reputation as a shrinking wallflower in social settings, she was a fierce and articulate advocate in the courtroom.

Usage: Commonly found in the idiomatic expression 'shrinking violet'.

### 3. the process of getting smaller

noun · CEFR B2

the act of something becoming smaller.

For teachers: the action or process of physical contraction or reduction in size.

- You can prevent the shrinking of your wool sweaters by washing them in cold water.
- The rapid shrinking of the lake has caused significant distress to the local fishing communities that rely on its waters.

## Examples

- The shrinking ice caps are a sign of global warming.
- The company struggled to maintain its profits while operating in a shrinking market with fewer customers every year.
- Sociologists are closely monitoring the shrinking middle class, as the widening wealth gap threatens to destabilize the long-standing social contract in many developed nations.

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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.