Standard Lemma guide

ensmallen

verb · 1 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

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  • UK: /ɪnˈsmɔːlən/
  • US: /ɛnˈsmɔlən/

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make smaller.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: humorous, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From small + en- -en, by analogy with embiggen. Attested from 2002. Logical antonym of "embiggen," a humorous neologism popularized by television writer David X. Cohen; see 1996 quotation.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese: 缩小 (suōxiǎo) — Make smaller
  • Japanese: 縮小する (shukushō suru) — Make smaller
  • Polish: pomniejszyć — Make smaller
  • Polish: pomniejszać — Make smaller
  • Swedish: förminska — Make smaller
  • Swedish: krympa — Make smaller