What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
narrowing
Example
The narrowing of the road caused traffic to slow down. [narrowing: noun]
Example
The company is narrowing its focus to concentrate on core products. [narrowing: present participle]
shrinking
Example
The ice cube is shrinking in the warm water. [shrinking: present participle]
Example
The company's profits are shrinking due to increased competition. [shrinking: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shrinking is more commonly used than narrowing in everyday language. Shrinking is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while narrowing is less common and often used in technical or specialized contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between narrowing and shrinking?
Both narrowing and shrinking can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, narrowing may be perceived as more technical or specialized, while shrinking is more versatile and can be used in various formality levels.
