Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

shrinking

/ˈʃɹɪŋkɪŋ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.44 in modern English

Syllables: shrink-ing
IPA: /ˈʃɹɪŋkɪŋ/

17

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

present participle and gerund of shrink

adj

Shy and retiring.

noun

The act of one who, or that which, shrinks; act of becoming smaller or moving timidly away.

Example Sentences

"[…] the silent grief beyond the power of words—the generous consolations of the noble sister—the shrinkings of the poor criminal, and his relapsings into a gentler penitence […]"
"The notion of a gently-nurtured girl being at the mercy of that fiend incarnate […] was one which caused me tangible shrinkings of the body."

Etymology

From shrink + -ing.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈʃɹɪŋkɪŋ/
British English: /ˈʃɹɪŋkɪŋ/

Inflected Forms

more shrinking (comparative) most shrinking (superlative) shrinkings (plural)

Derived Forms

nonshrinking shrinkingly antishrinking

Phrases

shrinking violet

Synonyms

shrinkage

Antonyms

unshrinking

Rhymes With

thinking drinking linking sinking blinking rethinking stinking winking unthinking plinking syncing

Questions

How do you pronounce shrinking?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈʃɹɪŋkɪŋ/.
What does shrinking mean?: present participle and gerund of shrink
Where does shrinking come from?: From shrink + -ing.

How to pronounce shrinking

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “shrinking”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈʃɹɪŋkɪŋ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “shrinking”.
Repeat and practice — Say “shrinking” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.