downsize

down- +‎ size

• IPA^(key): /ˈdaʊnsaɪz/

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downsize (third-person singular simple present downsizes, present participle downsizing, simple past and past participle downsized)

1. (intransitive) To reduce in size or number.

   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.

   • 2020 June 3, Philip Haigh, “Who can clean up Manchester's mess?”, in Rail, page 48, photo caption:

     Class 108 DMU LO257 awaits departure from Manchester Victoria on June 19 1991. Possessing 16 platforms in the 1960s, the station was significantly downsized in the early 1990s and today just six platforms remain.

2. (transitive) To reduce the workforce of.

   Synonym: (euphemistic) rightsize

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

3. (transitive, euphemistic) To terminate the employment of.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:lay off

   Joe got downsized and became a plumber.

• downsizing

• rightsize
• upsize

• size down