Why does a cell shrink when placed in an environment with a high sugar content?

Water moves down a concentration gradient, where it goes from an area of high concentration to a low concentration. This is a process called osmosis which does not require any energy. When a cell is placed in an area with a high sugar content, the area has a low water concentration compared to inside the cell. This causes water to move out of the cell into its environment, therefore causing the cell to shrink.