Shrank is the past tense of the verb shrink, which means to become smaller or to make something smaller. When you wash a wool sweater in hot water, it might shrink so much that it no longer fits. When something has already gotten smaller, we say it shrank.

Things shrink for different reasons. Clothes shrink in the dryer because heat makes their fibers contract and pull together. A balloon shrinks as air leaks out. A puddle shrinks as the sun evaporates the water. Your shadow shrinks at noon when the sun is directly overhead.

The word also describes pulling back out of fear or disgust. If you shrank away from a spider, you quickly moved backward without thinking. Someone might shrink from a challenge they find frightening, like refusing to try out for the school play because they're nervous about performing.

You might also hear about things shrinking in value or importance. A problem that seemed huge yesterday might shrink in your mind once you actually face it and realize it's manageable. When your courage grows, your fears can shrink.