shrank

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "shrank" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an irregular verb most often used in the past tense form, as in "The shirt shrank when I washed it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the end, though, politicians are judged by what they do, rather than what they say, and on selection, as on Ofsted, he ultimately shrank from breaking with the Blair-Adonis model.

The Guardian

In the three years to the end of 2010, his public funding shrank by 25% because of cuts imposed as a result of the economic crisis.

The Guardian

The Greek economy shrank by 0.2% in the first three months of the year, plunging the troubled country back into recession following a 0.4% fall in GDP in the previous quarter.

The Guardian - Business

From late 2006, the organisation was on the back foot – hampered by a tribal revolt that uprooted its leadership from Anbar and shrank its presence elsewhere in Iraq.

The Guardian

After 1990, civic society shrank, and important social, economic and political questions have not been raised since.

The Guardian - Opinion

Just as with S&P and Moodys, they form a small but powerful "oligopoly" – what was once the Big Eight shrank to the Big Five and, after the Andersen debacle at Enron, to the Big Four.

The Guardian - Opinion

But still, even as the morality police units grew in number, manteaus continued to grow progressively shorter and tighter, sleeves shrank, and a new technique emerged to hang the headscarf on a small, pointy bun on the back of women's heads.

The Guardian

The economy actually shrank as recently as the first quarter of this year but that was largely put down to a particularly harsh winter and GDP bounced back in the second quarter.

The Guardian - Business

Its support shrank to just 2.4% at this month's general election with the ANC, boasting South Africa's first Zulu president in Jacob Zuma, making inroads in its heartlands.

The Guardian

The Greek economy shrank in the first three months of the year, plunging the troubled country back into recession following a 0.4% fall in GDP in the previous quarter.

The Guardian - Business

In Berlin in particular, Die Linke over the last eight years actually shrank the (inflated) bureaucracy and proved fiscally highly conservative.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shrank" when referring to a past action where something became smaller in size or amount. Ensure the context clearly indicates what underwent the reduction.

Common error

Avoid using "shrank" as a present tense verb. The correct present tense form is "shrink", for example, "The company's profits shrink every quarter."

Linguistic Context

Shrank functions primarily as the simple past tense of the verb "shrink". It describes a completed action of becoming smaller in size, quantity, or extent. Ludwig confirms this is a standard verb form.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shrank" is the past tense of "shrink", indicating that something has become smaller. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It is frequently used in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, as demonstrated by the examples. While "shrank" is correct for simple past tense, remember to use "shrunk" as the past participle. When looking for alternatives, consider options like "decreased" or "diminished".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decreased

Focuses on a general reduction in size, amount, or intensity.

diminished

Implies a gradual reduction in size, importance, or strength.

contracted

Specifically indicates a reduction in size through drawing together.

lessened

Indicates a decrease in intensity or degree.

reduced

A general term for making something smaller or less.

dwindled

Suggests a progressive decline, often to a very small amount.

receded

Implies a movement backward or away, often in terms of water or influence.

subsided

Indicates a decrease in intensity or activity.

tapered off

Suggests a gradual decrease towards an end.

declined

A formal way to indicate a downward trend or decrease.

FAQs

How is "shrank" used in a sentence?

"Shrank" is the past tense of "shrink", used to describe something that has become smaller. For example, "The sweater "shrank" in the wash."

What is the difference between "shrank" and "shrunk"?

"Shrank" is the simple past tense, while "shrunk" is the past participle. Use "shrank" for simple past actions (e.g., "It shrank"), and "shrunk" with auxiliary verbs (e.g., "It has shrunk").

What can I say instead of "shrank"?

Alternatives include "decreased", "diminished", or "contracted", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has shrank"?

No, the correct past participle form of "shrink" is "shrunk". Therefore, the correct phrase is "has shrunk", not "has shrank".