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
Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2025
The company said Thursday that the cutbacks include Sacramento, California; Macon, Georgia; and Boise, Idaho.
—Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2025
Task begins by setting up the parallels between Tom and Robbie, two flawed men trying to keep their heads above the water of their own miseries, cutting back and forth between their routines to emphasize their similar ideologies and spontaneities.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cutback
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Noun
Gaines was responsible for the big first run, and Sherrod the next two, which included a great cutback to juke a defender on the scoring play.
—Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2025
The company said Thursday that the cutbacks include Sacramento, California; Macon, Georgia; and Boise, Idaho.
—Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
Start by cutting back the top growth to just a couple of inches to expose the crown of the plant.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2025
Task begins by setting up the parallels between Tom and Robbie, two flawed men trying to keep their heads above the water of their own miseries, cutting back and forth between their routines to emphasize their similar ideologies and spontaneities.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Sep. 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 9 Sep. 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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