has shrunk

USAGE SUMMARY

'has shrunk' is an appropriate and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a change in size, particularly when referring to something that has become smaller. For example: Over the past few years, the size of our company's profits has shrunk significantly.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Meanwhile, their competition has shrunk.

The New York Times

My helmet has shrunk.

The Guardian - Travel

Finance, a highly productive industry, has shrunk.

The Economist

Mr. Blagojevich's legal team has shrunk.

The New York Times

In most cases it has shrunk.

The Economist

Brown has shrunk into it," he says.

Independent

The number of possible customers has shrunk.

The Economist

The Internet has shrunk the world.

The New York Times

Syria's economy has shrunk by half.

The New York Times

Their once ample war chest has shrunk.

The Economist

Job growth has shrunk to a sliver.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has shrunk", ensure the subject is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify what exactly "has shrunk", such as "the budget has shrunk" or "the market share has shrunk".

Common error

Avoid using "has shrunk" in overly casual conversation. While grammatically correct, more informal alternatives like "got smaller" might be more appropriate in certain settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has shrunk" functions as a present perfect verb phrase, indicating an action that started in the past and has relevance to the present. Ludwig's AI confirms its appropriateness in written English, evident from numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has shrunk" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate a reduction in size, amount, or scope. Ludwig AI validates its appropriateness across various writing styles. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as formal and business contexts, this phrase serves to report changes concisely. For stylistic variation, alternatives such as "has diminished" or "has declined" can be used. While generally neutral in register, avoiding overuse in extremely informal settings is advisable. The high expert rating reflects its consistent and reliable usage in authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has diminished

Replaces "shrunk" with a more formal term for reduction.

has decreased

A general term for becoming smaller or less.

has declined

Suggests a gradual reduction, often in quality or quantity.

has lessened

Implies a reduction in intensity or degree.

has contracted

Often used in economic contexts to describe a reduction in size.

has dwindled

Indicates a gradual and significant reduction.

has reduced

Simple and direct synonym for making something smaller.

has tapered off

Suggests a gradual decline, often at the end of a process.

has compressed

Implies squeezing something into a smaller space or time.

has attenuated

A more formal term for reducing in force, effect, or value.

FAQs

How can I use "has shrunk" in a sentence?

You can use "has shrunk" to describe a reduction in size, amount, or scope. For example: "The company's profits "has shrunk" due to increased competition".

What's the difference between "has shrunk" and "has decreased"?

"Has shrunk" often implies a physical reduction in size, while "has decreased" is a more general term for any kind of reduction. While often interchangeable, "has shrunk" might be more appropriate when discussing tangible items or spaces.

What can I say instead of "has shrunk"?

You can use alternatives like "has diminished", "has declined", or "has lessened" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has shrinked" instead of "has shrunk"?

No, "has shrunk" is the correct past participle of "shrink". "Has shrinked" is not grammatically correct.