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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Downsize: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：reduce workforce (downsize)

downsize 🔊

/ˈdaʊnˌsaɪz/

When a company wants to save money, it might make the company smaller by letting some workers go.

Downsize meaning illustrated: manager analyzing declining employee chart in modern office.

reduce workforce 🔊

➕

/rɪˈdjuːs ˈwɜːkfɔːrs/

To decrease the number of employees in an organization, typically to cut costs or improve efficiency.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Composed of 'down' (reduce) and 'size' (scale), meaning to reduce in scale.

💡 Mnemonic

Think: 'down' + 'size' = reduce the size of something.

📖 Example

Due to the economic downturn, the tech giant had to downsize its workforce by 10%. 🔊 Because of the poor economy, the large technology company needed to reduce its staff by 10%.

🔗 Collocations

downsize the company – to reduce the size of the company

downsize operations – to scale back business activities

downsize staff – to reduce the number of employees

🔄 Synonyms

lay off (v.) – to dismiss employees from their jobs

reduce (v.) – to make something smaller in size or amount

cut back (v.) – to reduce expenditure or number

🚫 Antonyms

expand (v.) – to increase in size or scope

hire (v.) – to employ new workers

grow (v.) – to become larger or more extensive

🌱 Derivatives

downsizing (n.) – the act of reducing the number of employees or the scale of operations

📖 Cultural Story

The term 'downsize' emerged in the 1970s in American business jargon, combining 'down' and 'size' to describe corporate restructuring and workforce reduction.

Meaning 2：make smaller (downsize)

downsize 🔊

/ˈdaʊnˌsaɪz/

To make something smaller, or to replace a big thing with a smaller version.

Downsize definition: couple moving from large house to smaller cottage, showing lifestyle change.

make smaller 🔊

➕

/meɪk ˈsmɔːlər/

To reduce the size of something or to switch to a smaller version, often for practical or lifestyle reasons.

📁 Category：Buildings & Places 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

After their children moved out, the couple decided to downsize from their large family home to a cozy apartment. 🔊 After their children left home, the couple chose to move from their big house to a smaller apartment.

🔗 Collocations

downsize a home – to move to a smaller residence

downsize a car – to switch to a smaller vehicle

downsize possessions – to reduce the number of belongings

🔄 Synonyms

reduce (v.) – to make something smaller in size

scale down (v.) – to decrease the size or extent of something

minimize (v.) – to reduce to the smallest possible amount or size

🚫 Antonyms

enlarge (v.) – to make something bigger

expand (v.) – to increase in size

upsize (v.) – to increase the size of something

🌱 Derivatives

downsizing (n.) – the process of making something smaller