What does shrunk mean?
Shrunk is the past tense and past participle of the irregular verb shrink. It describes becoming smaller, causing something to become smaller, or withdrawing from a place or activity. Typical contexts include clothing that contracted during washing, a population that declined, a business that reduced its workforce, or a person who retreated nervously. The form is especially useful because it completes the verb's familiar sequence: shrink, shrank, shrunk. As an adjective, shrunken is often preferred before a noun, as in “shrunken remains,” although “shrunk remains” is also possible in less formal or more compact usage. Shrunk can carry a figurative meaning when describing reduced quantities, opportunities, or confidence, as well as its straightforward physical meaning.
verb (past tense and past participle)The past tense and past participle of shrink: to become smaller in size, amount, or extent, or to cause something to become smaller.
- To become smaller in size, amount, number, or extent.
- To cause something to become smaller.
- To retreat or withdraw from a place or activity.
"The cotton shirts shrank after being washed at a high temperature."
"The lake has shrunk dramatically during the drought."
"The company shrank its workforce as demand declined."
"He shrunk back into the shadows as the parade passed."
In its standard past form, this irregular verb changes shape twice: shrink, shrank, shrunk.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shrunk come from?
The word descends from Old English scrincan, meaning “to withdraw” or “to shrink.” Its modern sense of becoming smaller developed through Middle English, where the forms shrinken and shrunken appeared. The English word is related to forms in several Germanic languages, including Dutch schrinken, German schrumpfen, and Swedish skrynka.
Related word forms
How shrunk is actually used
In standard English, the past tense is shrank and the past participle is shrunk. The adjective shrunken is commonly used before a noun, especially for physically contracted or reduced things.
Easily confused with shrunk
Shrunk means made or became smaller, whereas sunk means descended beneath the surface of water or another medium.
Shrunk is the past form of shrink, while drunk is the past participle of drink.