Standard Lemma guide

downsize

verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈdaʊnsaɪz/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: D AW1 N S AY2 Z Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To reduce in size or number.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Joe and Edna moved to a bungalow after deciding to downsize when the children had left home.
  • The company chose to downsize by laying off half of its workers.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To reduce the workforce of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • They downsized the division by offering attractive early-retirement packages and selling off an office building.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rightsize

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: scale back, scale down

3

verb

Meaning 3

To terminate the employment of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: euphemistic, transitive

Examples

  • Joe got downsized and became a plumber.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: axe, can, decruit, dehire, discard, remove, discharge, dismiss, downsize, fire, give the axe, give someone the boot, give someone their cards, give the chop, give the elbow, give someone the heave-ho, give someone the old heave-ho, lay off, let go, let someone go, make redundant, pink slip, promote to customer, retrench, sack, serve notice, shit-can, term, terminate, throw out, unhire

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

reduce in size or number

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the company downsized its research staff

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: reduce, cut down, cut back, trim, trim down, trim back, cut, bring down

5

verb

Meaning 5

make in a smaller size

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the car makers downsized the SUVs when fuel became very expensive

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: shrink, reduce

6

verb

Meaning 6

dismiss from work

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • three secretaries were downsized during the financial crisis

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: furlough, lay off

History

Etymology

From down- + size.

Across languages

Translations

29 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: afslanken — to reduce in size or number
  • Dutch: reorganizeren — to reduce in size or number
  • Finnish: pienentää — to reduce in size or number
  • French: réduire — to reduce in size or number
  • French: diminuer — to reduce in size or number
  • French: revoir à la baisse — to reduce in size or number
  • Greek: μειώνω (meióno) — to reduce in size or number
  • Swedish: skära ned — to reduce in size or number
  • Chinese Mandarin: 裁員 /裁员 (cáiyuán) — to reduce the workforce of
  • Dutch: afslanken — to reduce the workforce of
  • Dutch: reorganizeren — to reduce the workforce of
  • Finnish: vähentää työvoimaa — to reduce the workforce of
  • French: réduire — to reduce the workforce of
  • French: réajuster — to reduce the workforce of
  • Greek: μειώνω (meióno) — to reduce the workforce of
  • Hungarian: leépít — to reduce the workforce of
  • Japanese: ダウンサイジングする (daunsaizingu-surú) — to reduce the workforce of
  • Japanese: リストラする (risutora-surú) — to reduce the workforce of
  • Russian: сокраща́ть (sokraščátʹ) — to reduce the workforce of
  • Russian: сократи́ть (sokratítʹ) — to reduce the workforce of
  • Spanish: hacer recortes de personal — to reduce the workforce of
  • Spanish: hacer recortes de plantilla — to reduce the workforce of
  • Spanish: reajustar la plantilla — to reduce the workforce of
  • Dutch: afdanken — to terminate the employment of
  • Dutch: afvloeien — to terminate the employment of
  • Finnish: saada potkut — to terminate the employment of
  • Hungarian: elbocsát — to terminate the employment of
  • Russian: увольнять (uvolʹnjatʹ) — to terminate the employment of
  • Russian: сокращать (sokraščatʹ) — to terminate the employment of