downsizing
/ˈdaʊnsaɪzɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [dˈaʊnsˌaɪzɪŋ] /ˈdaʊnsaɪzɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [dˈaʊnsˌaɪzɪŋ] /ˈdau̇n-ˌsīz How to pronounce downsize (audio)/ (ame, mw)
downsizing — noun
- downsizingsingular
- downsizingsplural
1. the process of cutting a business, office, or other organization to a smaller sc
the process of cutting a business, office, or other organization to a smaller scale, especially by removing jobs.
After the merger, several regional offices faced downsizing before the end of summer.
business noun: company cuts after a merger
Union leaders warned that further downsizing would leave the hospital short of nurses.
The CEO announced downsizing after sales fell for three straight quarters.
Years of downsizing changed the newspaper from a city team into a tiny staff.
- layoffs
focuses only on people losing jobs, not on the wider restructuring
- cutbacks
broader and often used for spending or services as well as staff
- restructuring
can include bigger organizational changes, not always fewer jobs
- expansion
growth in staff, operations, or overall scale
文法句型
downsizing in a company
a round of downsizing
downsizing after falling sales
用法筆記
Usually used for businesses, public agencies, hospitals, and other large organizations. It often implies job losses, not just a general attempt to save money.
常見錯誤
2. the choice to leave a large home and move into a smaller one, often to spend les
the choice to leave a large home and move into a smaller one, often to spend less money or manage less space.
After the twins moved out, Grace began downsizing to a smaller apartment.
downsizing to + smaller home
Many retirees see downsizing as a way to cut bills and housework.
Their downsizing meant selling the family house and keeping only essential furniture.
For many couples, downsizing brought less stress and more time for travel.
- upsizing
moving to a larger home or choosing more living space
文法句型
downsizing to a smaller home
downsizing after children move out
downsizing in retirement
用法筆記
Often used about older homeowners or parents after children leave home. It describes moving into a smaller place, not simply cleaning or renovating the same home.
downsizing — verb
- downsizingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- downsizings3rd person singular
- downsizinging-ing form
- downsizingedpast simple
1. to cut a company, team, or activity down to a smaller scale, often by removing j
to cut a company, team, or activity down to a smaller scale, often by removing jobs or reducing what it offers.
The retailer is downsizing its night staff after two weak holiday seasons.
downsize + staff / workforce
To save fuel, the town council downsized the bus route last winter.
The publisher is downsizing its print division and expanding online subscriptions.
After the storm, the festival committee downsized the event to a single stage.
- reduce
broader and more neutral, with less emphasis on staff or scale cuts
- scale back
often means doing less rather than removing people
- streamline
suggests making something more efficient, sometimes with a positive tone
文法句型
downsize + staff / department / operation
downsize + noun phrase + to + smaller scale
be downsizing + noun phrase
用法筆記
Most often used for businesses, public services, events, and other organized activities. This sense takes a direct object and usually suggests an active decision to cut staff, services, or scope.
常見錯誤
2. to become smaller in size, scope, or amount over time.
to become smaller in size, scope, or amount over time.
As customers ordered online, the old shopping district kept downsizing.
intransitive: organization or area becomes smaller
The class kept downsizing as students moved to the online section.
With fewer clients, the studio is downsizing faster than its owner expected.
Over the last decade, the village school has been downsizing steadily.
- expand
to become larger in scope or size
文法句型
be downsizing
keep downsizing
downsize over time
用法筆記
No direct object appears in this sense because the business, group, or activity itself is getting smaller. Unlike sense 1, the focus is on the change happening, not on who causes it.