English Meaning & Definitions
To wrinkle and contract, especially due to loss of moisture or heat.
- “The intense heat caused the leaves to shrivel and turn brown.”
- “If you don't water the plant, the roots will eventually shrivel.”
To cause to feel worthless or diminished, often used in a metaphorical sense regarding confidence or reputation.
- “His confidence seemed to shrivel under her cold, judgmental stare.”
- “The scandal caused his political influence to shrivel overnight.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “shrivel”.
Originating in the mid-16th century, the word is of uncertain etymology, likely related to the Middle English 'shrivelen' or the Old Norse 'skrifa' (to cut or scrape), suggesting a sense of shrinking or wrinkling as if the surface were being drawn in.
Think of a 'shriveled' apple that has 'shrunk' and 'shivered' in the cold sun.
Frequently Asked Questions About “shrivel”
1. What is the meaning of “shrivel” in English?
In English, shrivel (verb) is defined as: “To wrinkle and contract, especially due to loss of moisture or heat.”.
2. How do you use “shrivel” in a sentence?
“The intense heat caused the leaves to shrivel and turn brown.”
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “shrivel”?
Originating in the mid-16th century, the word is of uncertain etymology, likely related to the Middle English 'shrivelen' or the Old Norse 'skrifa' (to cut or scrape), suggesting a sense of shrinking or wrinkling as if the surface were being drawn in.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →A measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.