verb
shrivel
SHRIH-vuhl
Shrivel (verb) means to shrink and wrinkle, especially from losing moisture. Example: “The grapes shriveled into raisins in the sun.”
verb
1
To shrink and wrinkle, especially from losing moisture.
"The grapes shriveled into raisins in the sun."
"Without water, the plant's leaves quickly shriveled."
How to use shrivel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo dry out and shrink into a wrinkled shape.
Common pairings
shrivel up
shriveled skin
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- shrivels
- Past tense
- shriveled, shrivelled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The grapes _____ into raisins in the sun.
Etymology
Probably of North Germanic origin, related to a Swedish dialect word for "wrinkle," and connected to the same root as shrink.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for shrivel
See all rhymes for shrivel →Frequently asked questions
What does “shrivel” mean?
The word “shrivel” means to shrink and wrinkle, especially from losing moisture. In plain terms, to dry out and shrink into a wrinkled shape.
How do you pronounce “shrivel”?
“Shrivel” is pronounced SHRIH-vuhl (/ˈʃɹɪvəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “shrivel” in a sentence?
Here is “shrivel” used in a sentence: “The grapes shriveled into raisins in the sun.”
What part of speech is “shrivel”?
“Shrivel” is a verb.
Where does the word “shrivel” come from?
The word “shrivel” comes from Germanic. Probably of North Germanic origin, related to a Swedish dialect word for "wrinkle," and connected to the same root as shrink.
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