1
: something cut back
2
: reduction
a cutback in funding
cut back; cutting back; cuts back
: to shorten by cutting : prune
1
: to interrupt the sequence of a plot (as of a movie) by introducing events prior to those last presented
2
: cut down
cut back on sugar
Examples of cutback in a Sentence
Verb
we need to cut back the bushes a bit so that the house number is visible from the street
cut back the meeting so everyone could leave early for the long weekend
Recent Examples on the Web
Todd Spangler, Variety, 10 June 2025
Neither the sweeping cutbacks of DOGE nor Trump’s punitive global tariffs have caused a real GOP rebellion, and the party is currently reinterpreting years of fury about deficits to push through a megabill that adds trillions of dollars in debt.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 5 June 2025
Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 11 June 2025
His massive taxes on imports are expected to raise costs for U.S. companies that buy raw materials, equipment and components from overseas and force them to cut back hiring or even lay off workers.
—Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cutback
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Noun
The cutbacks were part of efforts to slash $500 million in annual costs.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 10 June 2025
Neither the sweeping cutbacks of DOGE nor Trump’s punitive global tariffs have caused a real GOP rebellion, and the party is currently reinterpreting years of fury about deficits to push through a megabill that adds trillions of dollars in debt.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 5 June 2025
Verb
Lufthansa, for example, has reduced frequencies on routes to New York, Miami, and Chicago, while KLM cut back on flights to San Francisco and Boston.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 11 June 2025
His massive taxes on imports are expected to raise costs for U.S. companies that buy raw materials, equipment and components from overseas and force them to cut back hiring or even lay off workers.
—Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cutback
Cite this Entry
“Cutback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutback. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cutback
1 of 2 noun
cut·back
ˈkət-ˌbak 
: an act or instance of cutting something back
cut back
2 of 2 verbˈkət-ˈbak
1
2
: to reduce something in amount
cut back on smoking
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