# shrink

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈʃɹɪŋk/ · frequency rank #10,769

## Definitions
1. To cause to become smaller.
2. To become smaller; to contract.
3. To cower or flinch.
4. To draw back; to withdraw.
5. To withdraw or retire, as from danger.
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.

## Easily confused with
- **sink** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shrink-vs-sink)
- **stink** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shrink-vs-stink)
- **spring** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shrink-vs-spring)
- **string** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shrink-vs-string)
- **sprint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shrink-vs-sprint)
- **shrunk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shrink-vs-shrunk)
- **shin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shin-vs-shrink)
- **Shri** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shri-vs-shrink)
- **shine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shine-vs-shrink)
- **shiny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shiny-vs-shrink)
- **Shrek** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shrek-vs-shrink)
- **sheik** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sheik-vs-shrink)
- **shank** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shank-vs-shrink)
- **sarin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sarin-vs-shrink)
- **shirk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shirk-vs-shrink)
- **shrimp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shrimp-vs-shrink)
- **shrine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shrine-vs-shrink)
- **shrank** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shrank-vs-shrink)
- **shrill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shrill-vs-shrink)
- **shriek** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shriek-vs-shrink)

## Common misspellings (10)
`hsrink`, `shhrink`, `shirnk`, `shrikn`, `shrinkk`, `shrinnk`, `shrnik`, `shrrink`, `srhink`, `sshrink`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/shrink