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DOWNSIZE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they downsize ... he / she / it downsizes
Past simple: downsized
Past participle: downsized
-ing form: downsizing
Sense 1
Meaning:
(of a company) reduce in size or number of employees
Example:
the company downsized its research staff
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "downsize" is one way to...):
bring down; cut; cut back; cut down; reduce; trim; trim back; trim down (cut down on; make a reduction in)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 2
Meaning:
Design or manufacture in a smaller size
Example:
the car makers downsized the SUVs when fuel became very expensive
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "downsize" is one way to...):
reduce; shrink (reduce in size; reduce physically)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 3
Meaning:
Dismiss from work
Example:
three secretaries were downsized during the financial crisis
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Hypernyms (to "downsize" is one way to...):
furlough; lay off (dismiss, usually for economic reasons)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
