Irregular verb
The verb to shrink
shrink → shrank → shrunk
B2Meaning: to become smaller; to make something smaller · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they shrink·he/she/it shrinks - Past Simple:
shrank(shrunkis also accepted in the US) - Past participle:
shrunk(shrunkenas an adjective) - -ing form:
shrinking
Conjugation of the verb to shrink
Present Simple
| I | shrink |
| You | shrink |
| He / She / It | shrinks |
| We | shrink |
| You (pl.) | shrink |
| They | shrink |
Past Simple
| I | shrank |
| You | shrank |
| He / She / It | shrank |
| We | shrank |
| You (pl.) | shrank |
| They | shrank |
All the forms of the verb to shrink
Present Simple
Full pageshrink / shrinks
“Wool shrinks in hot water.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are shrinking
“I am shrinking the jumper right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pageshrank (UK) / shrank or shrunk (US)
“My sweater shrank in the wash.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were shrinking
“I was shrinking the jumper when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has shrunk
“I have already shrunk the jumper.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad shrunk
“She had already shrunk the jumper when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill shrink
“I will shrink the jumper tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to shrink
“I'm going to shrink the jumper this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould shrink
“I would shrink the jumper if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to shrink
1. Getting smaller (clothes)
- My T-shirt shrank in the wash.
- Wool shrinks in hot water.
2. Getting smaller (figurative)
Shrink can also mean to become smaller in number or amount.
- The market is shrinking.
3. Shrink from
Shrink from something means to avoid it because you are afraid.
- He doesn't shrink from challenges.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Shrinked ❌
Shrink is irregular: shrink → shrank → shrunk, never shrinked. It follows the same pattern as drink → drank → drunk, sing → sang → sung and swim → swam → swum.
2. Pre-shrunk
Pre-shrunk is a label on clothes. It means they were treated before sale, so they will not get smaller in the wash. You see it on jeans and T-shirts.
What's next?
You can conjugate to shrink. Now say it out loud.
This page explained everything. On PLAY, you practise this verb out loud in 3 minutes, until it comes naturally.
Practise to shrink on PLAYFree · No sign-up · 3 minutes
For teachersReady-made activities to practise to shrink in class
The Academy offers self-marking exercises and progress tracking for each student: your class practises, and you see who has got it and who needs more help.
Discover the Academy30-day free trial · No bank card needed
English contestConjugating to shrink is a key skill in the English contest
Every year, the Big Challenge tests the key English verbs. Register your students so they can check their level in a real contest.
Register my students5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of shrink?+
The Past Simple of shrink is shrank (standard in the UK). In the US, shrunk is also accepted. The past participle is shrunk. Shrink → shrank → shrunk, like drink → drank → drunk and sing → sang → sung.
Is it shrank or shrunk?+
Shrank is the classic Past Simple, in the UK and the US: My jumper shrank in the wash. Shrunk is the past participle everywhere: It has shrunk. In informal American English, it is also a Past Simple. The film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (US, 1989) made this use famous.
Is shrunken a word?+
Yes. Shrunken is the old past participle. Today it lives mostly as an adjective, before a noun: a shrunken muscle (smaller and weaker), shrunken cheeks (thin and hollow). After have, use shrunk: It has shrunk.
Why does shrink mean psychiatrist?+
It is American slang. Shrink is short for headshrinker, a joke name for psychiatrists in the US in the 1950s. I see a shrink means I see a psychiatrist. It is very informal.
What does pre-shrunk mean on a label?+
Pre-shrunk clothes were treated before they were sold, so they will not get smaller when you wash them. The label tells you the size will not change. You often see it on jeans and cotton T-shirts.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/shrink
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.