cut down

verb

cut down; cutting down; cuts down

transitive verb

1

a

: to strike down and kill or incapacitate

b

: knock down

2

a

: to remodel by removing extras or unwanted furnishings and fittings

b

: to remake in a smaller size

intransitive verb

: to reduce or curtail volume or activity

cut down on smoking

see also:

cut down to size

Examples of cut down in a Sentence

we need to cut down that dying tree

Recent Examples on the Web

Making croutons at home is also one of the simplest ways to cut down on food waste; slightly stale bread is actually the ideal starting point. —Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026

Nitrogen pollution must be cut down by 145 million pounds per year in order to meet water quality goals, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. —Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 18 June 2026

Her friend finds other ways to cut down on costs, too. —Parents, 18 June 2026

When applied to Wordle, the goal is to pick each subsequent word so as to cut down on entropy as quickly as possible. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 17 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for cut down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

cut down

verb

1

: to knock down and kill or wound

2

: to make over in a smaller size

3

: to reduce something in amount

cut down on energy use

Medical Definition

cutdown

noun

cut·​down ˈkət-ˌdau̇n 

: incision of a superficial blood vessel (as a vein) to facilitate insertion of a catheter (as for administration of fluids)