shrink

/ˈʃɹɪŋk/

//ˈʃɹɪŋk// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"shrink" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“shrink” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #10,769 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#10,769
frequency rank, English
6
letters
10
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To cause to become smaller.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

shrink vs sink
67% similar
shrink vs stink
67% similar
shrink vs spring
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for shrink
PropertyValue
Headwordshrink
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈʃɹɪŋk/
Letters6
Frequency rank#10,769
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “shrink” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). shrink lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for shrink is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈʃɹɪŋk/. Corpus data places it at rank #10,769 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for shrink, with forms such as "hsrink", "shhrink", and "shirnk". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "sink", "stink", "spring", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English schrynken, from Old English sċrincan, from Proto-Germanic *skrinkwaną. Cognate with Dutch schrinken (“to shrink”). The sense “psychologist, psychotherapist” is a clipping of head-shrinker. The correct English form is shrink, spelled S-H-R-I-N-K.

Definition

  1. 1
    To cause to become smaller.
  2. 2
    To become smaller; to contract.
  3. 3
    To cower or flinch.
  4. 4
    To draw back; to withdraw.
  5. 5
    To withdraw or retire, as from danger.
  6. 6
    To move back or away, especially because of fear or disgust.

Etymology

From Middle English schrynken, from Old English sċrincan, from Proto-Germanic *skrinkwaną. Cognate with Dutch schrinken (“to shrink”). The sense “psychologist, psychotherapist” is a clipping of head-shrinker.

Synonyms

funkshirkshrink backretreatflinch

Antonyms

expandgrowenlargestretchexpandgrowenlargestretch

This word in other languages

contraerse(Español)se réduire(Français)schrumpfen(Deutsch)encolher(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: hsrink,shhrink,shirnk,shrikn,shrinkk,shrinnk,shrnik,shrrink,srhink,sshrink

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of shrink - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

hsrink2shhrink1shirnk2shrikn2shrinkk1shrinnk1shrnik2shrrink1
Edit distance from "shrink"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "shrink"?
"shrink" is spelled S-H-R-I-N-K. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈʃɹɪŋk/.
What does "shrink" mean?
As a verb, "shrink" means: To cause to become smaller.
What words are commonly confused with "shrink"?
"shrink" is commonly confused with "sink", "stink", "spring". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "shrink"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "shrink" is /ˈʃɹɪŋk/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "shrink"?
From Middle English schrynken, from Old English sċrincan, from Proto-Germanic *skrinkwaną. Cognate with Dutch schrinken (“to shrink”). The sense “psychologist, psychotherapist” is a clipping of head-shrinker. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “shrink”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is S-H-R-I-N-K - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈʃɹɪŋk/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “sink” - see the side-by-side comparison. shrink vs sink
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list