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Prepositions after verbs

Shrink from, in, by, to or as?

Different prepositions after shrink express avoidance, amount, result, or context. The most common fixed pattern is shrink from.

Quick answer

How do prepositions work with shrink?

Use shrink from to mean avoid something difficult or unpleasant. Use shrink by for the amount of reduction and shrink to for the final size or level. In and as usually introduce context or role rather than fixed combinations.

She did not shrink from responsibility.
Sales shrank by 10 percent.
The sweater shrank to half its size.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
shrink from + action

Avoiding something difficult or unpleasant

Use shrink from for fear, avoidance, or unwillingness.

He never shrinks from hard work.
They shrank from the challenge.
2
shrink by + amount

Showing the amount of reduction

By introduces the difference or decrease.

The company shrank by 200 employees.
Profits shrank by nearly a third.
3
shrink to + size/level

Showing the final result

To introduces the new size, number, or level.

The lake shrank to a narrow stream.
Our savings shrank to almost nothing.
4
shrink in + context

Describing where reduction happens

In often introduces an area or category.

There was a shrink in demand for luxury goods.
The fabric may shrink in hot water.
5
shrink as + role/state

Using as for comparison or function

As usually introduces a role or changing state, not a fixed complement.

The market shrank as interest rates rose.
The crowd shrank as the weather worsened.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
shrink from
She shrank from the idea of conflict.
avoid or recoil from something
shrink in
Wool can shrink in hot water.
location or context of shrinking
shrink by
The budget shrank by 5 percent.
amount of reduction
shrink to
The audience shrank to fifty people.
final size or level
shrink as
The team shrank as members resigned.
change happening during another process

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using shrink from for amounts

Use by for the amount of change.

✕ Sales shrank from 15 percent. ✓ Sales shrank by 15 percent.

Confusing by and to

By shows the amount lost. To shows the final result.

✕ The town shrank by a small village. ✓ The town shrank to a small village.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. He never shrinks ___ difficult conversations.
2. The workforce shrank ___ 12 percent last year.
3. The puddle shrank ___ a thin line of water.

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Frequently asked questions

What does shrink from mean?

It means avoid something because it feels unpleasant, difficult, or frightening.

How do I choose between shrink by and shrink to?

Use by for the amount of decrease and to for the final result after the decrease.

Is shrink in a fixed verb pattern?

Usually no. In often introduces a place, material, or area where shrinking happens.

sack, by, sack, for, sack, from "sacrifice for" or "sacrifice to"? sail from, in, for, to or through? "salvage from" or "salvage in"? sanction by, for, in, with or according? satisfy with, by, in, about or after? "saturate with" or "saturate in"? save by, for, from, on or in? "say in", "say about" or "say to"? "scan for", "scan in" or "scan through"? "scar by" or "scar on"? scatter in, across, around, throughout or on?

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