1 C1 neutral
To contract or become smaller, often due to heat or drying.
"The wet leather shrank up as it dried in the afternoon sun."
inseparable
shrink up
C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To contract, curl, or become smaller, especially under the influence of heat or drying; rare and less standard than 'shrink down'.
In plain English
To become smaller or to curl into a tight shape.
What does "shrink up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To shrink in an upward or inward direction — transparent but less natural than 'shrink down'.
Actually means
To become smaller or to curl into a tight shape.
Usage tip
Less common than 'shrink down'. Can be used for physical materials that contract inward (leather, fabric, or organic matter drying). Also used in informal speech to describe a person making themselves seem small. Largely interchangeable with 'shrink' in most contexts.
Words that pair with "shrink up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
heat cold leather fabric fear corner
How to conjugate "shrink up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
shrink up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
shrinks up
he/she/it
Past simple
shrinked up
yesterday
Past participle
shrinked up
have + pp
-ing form
shrinking up
continuous
Hear "shrink up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "shrink up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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