Cool MateDecrease vs Shrink
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Decrease
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Shrink
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
| Decrease | Shrink | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dɪˈkriːs//🇺🇸 //dɪˈkriːs// | 🇬🇧 /["/ʃrɪŋk/","/ʃrɪŋks/","/ʃræŋk/","/ʃrʌŋk/","/ˈʃrɪŋkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʃrɪŋk/","/ʃrɪŋks/","/ʃræŋk/","/ʃrʌŋk/","/ˈʃrɪŋkɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To make something smaller or lower. | to make something smaller or to become smaller |
| Example | The government plans to decrease taxes next year. | If you wash that sweater in hot water, it will shrink. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | decrease in size, decrease in temperature, significantly decrease, gradually decrease, decrease the risk | considerably, dramatically, significantly, by, from, to, shrink in size, a little, visibly, instinctively, try to, against, in, into |
| Antonyms | increase, rise, augment | expand, grow, inflate |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'decrease' with 'increase'., Using 'decrease' without an object, e.g. 'decrease' must have something to decrease., Incorrectly conjugating the verb in different tenses. | Confused with 'shrank' as the past tense — remember 'shrunk' is the past participle., Using 'shrink' incorrectly with inanimate objects that can't physically shrink., Mixing up 'shrink' with 'squeeze' — they have different meanings. |
| Usage notes | Use 'decrease' in formal and neutral contexts to describe reductions, such as in appetite or temperature. | Use 'shrink' when talking about clothes getting smaller after washing or when describing anything reducing in size. Avoid using it in very formal contexts. |
Frequently asked questions: Decrease vs Shrink
What's the difference between Decrease and Shrink?
Decrease: To make something smaller or lower. Shrink: to make something smaller or to become smaller
Are Decrease and Shrink the same CEFR level?
Decrease: B2, Shrink: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Decrease and Shrink interchangeably?
Not always. Decrease and Shrink are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.