To move backward involuntarily out of fear, shock, or reluctance; to hesitate or avoid doing something.
To move back because you are afraid, shocked, or don't want to do something.
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To move backward physically as a reaction to something frightening or unpleasant.
"She shrank back when the firework exploded just inches from her feet."
He shrank back against the wall, his heart hammering.
— J.K. Rowling, 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' (1998)
To be unwilling to act or become involved because of fear or reluctance.
"He had always wanted to express his feelings but kept shrinking back from the conversation."
To shrink (become smaller) and move back — fairly transparent.
To move back because you are afraid, shocked, or don't want to do something.
Can be literal (physically stepping backward) or figurative (being unwilling to take action). Often followed by 'from': 'shrink back from a challenge'. Common in literary and descriptive writing.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "shrink back" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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