Shrank or Shrunk: Which Is Correct? 

Shrank and shrunk are both correct forms of shrink, but you cannot always use them in the same place. The usual simple past form is shrank, while shrunk is normally used as the past participle with words such as has, have, and had. You may also come across shrunken, especially when it describes something that has become smaller. The key is knowing which form fits the sentence.

Quick Answer

The standard forms are:

shrink → shrank → shrunk

Use shrank for a completed action in the past:

The shirt shrank in the wash.

Use shrunk with a helping verb:

The shirt has shrunk.

Shrunken is also correct when it works as an adjective.

Shrank vs. Shrunk: Comparison Table

How Are “Shrank” and “Shrunk” Used?

Shrank is the form you normally need when the action happened in the past.

The jeans shrank after I washed them.

Shrunk is usually used in perfect tenses or passive constructions.

The jeans have shrunk.

The sweater was shrunk in hot water.

You may find shrunk as a simple past form in older English, but shrank is the normal choice in modern standard English.

What About “Shrinked” and “Shrunken”?

Shrinked has appeared in older books and other historical or literary writing, but it is not the standard form you should use in ordinary modern English. For everyday writing, stick with shrank and shrunk.

Shrunken is perfectly valid, but it is most natural when it describes a noun:

The shrunken sweater was too small to wear.

Why Is “Shrink” an Irregular Verb?

Unlike regular verbs, shrink does not form its past by adding -ed. Its vowel changes instead:

• Present: shrink
• Simple past: shrank
• Past participle: shrunk

A useful comparison is:

drink → drank → drunk

That same pattern can help you remember which form belongs in each position.

Common Mistakes

❌ The shirt shrinked yesterday.
✅ The shirt shrank yesterday.

❌ The shirt has shrank.
✅ The shirt has shrunk.

Pronunciation

Shrank and shrunk do not have the same vowel sound. Shrank has the vowel sound heard in bank, while shrunk has the vowel sound heard in book. Both end with the k sound.

Six Examples

1. The sweater shrank in the dryer.
2. My jeans have shrunk since I washed them.
3. The balloon shrank as the air escaped.
4. The company has shrunk significantly in recent years.
5. The wooden door shrank during the dry season.
6. The shrunken sweater no longer fits me.

Easy Memory Trick

Keep the three forms together:

Shrink → Shrank → Shrunk

Remember:

Simple past = shrank
Helping verb = shrunk

When the word describes something that has become smaller, shrunken is often the natural choice.

Mini Quiz

1. Which sentence is correct?
A. The shirt shrank yesterday.
B. The shirt shrinked yesterday.
C. The shirt has shrank yesterday.
D. The shirt shrunked yesterday.

2. Complete the sentence: “The jeans have □.”
A. shrank
B. shrunk
C. shrinked
D. shrinking

3. What is the standard simple past form of “shrink”?
A. Shrunk
B. Shrank
C. Shrinked
D. Shrunken

4. Which sentence is correct?
A. The sweater has shrank.
B. The sweater has shrunk.
D.A sweater has shrunkened.

5. Which word is most natural as an adjective?
A. Shrank
B. Shrunk
C. Shrunken
D. Shrinked

Answers: 1-A, 2-B, 3-B, 4-B, 5-C

FAQs

Is it “shrank” or “shrunk”?

Both are correct. Shrank is the usual simple past form, while shrunk is normally the past participle.

Is “shrinked” a word?

It has been used in older and literary English, but it is not the standard modern form.

Is “shrunken” correct?

Yes. Shrunken is commonly used as an adjective, especially before a noun.

What are the three forms of “shrink”?

The standard forms are shrink, shrank, shrunk.

Conclusion

Shrank and shrunk are both correct, but the sentence tells you which one you need. Use shrank for a simple past action and shrunk after a helping verb such as has, have, or had. Shrunken is useful when the word describes something that has become smaller, while shrinked is generally not used in standard modern English.

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Mignon Fogarty

Mignon Fogarty is an experienced English grammar and writing expert specializing in grammar, word usage, and clear American English. At EduNexxt, her focus is making grammar simple, accurate, and practical.