cutback

noun cut·back \ ˈkət-ˌbak \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of cutback

1 : something cut back

2 : reduction

a cutback in funding

See cutback defined for English-language learners

See cutback defined for kids

Recent Examples of cutback from the Web

Due to cutbacks, a fifth of the state’s schools now operate on four-day weeks.

— matthew yglesias, Vox, "The week’s main political stories, explained," 6 Apr. 2018
And, incredibly, Barcelona drew level mere seconds later, as Messi curled home from outside the box from Coutinho's cutback to secure an incredible draw.

— SI.com, "Sevilla 2-2 Barcelona: Messi Strike Secures Incredible Last-Gasp Draw for La Liga Leaders," 31 Mar. 2018
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs makes an easy target for proposed cutbacks going back decades, including under President Bill Clinton.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Hillary Clinton's name dropped from Fulbright fellowship," 20 Mar. 2018
In a 2015 interview about Southwest's cutbacks, McQueen predicted an eventual turnaround at Akron-Canton, which competes for both air service and passengers with nearby Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

— susan glaser, cleveland.com, "Akron-Canton Airport chief Rick McQueen to retire in late 2018," 11 Jan. 2018
The Trump administration has challenged the scientific consensus on climate, moved to repeal curbs on power plant emissions, proposed sweeping cutbacks to renewable energy research and pledged to withdraw from global climate talks.

— katherine ellison, WIRED, "Why Climate Change Skeptics Are Backing Geoengineering," 28 Mar. 2018
Due to cutbacks in state and federal funds, Senior Services Associates was forced to reduce staff which has resulted in longer wait times for services, officials have said.

— linda girardi, Aurora Beacon-News, "Aurora Township supports tax increase to fund senior services," 21 Mar. 2018
The changes won't have a significant impact on the line's capacity as the cutback in total number of ships will be paired with an increase in departures per ship.

— gene sloan, USA TODAY, "Avalon Waterways fleet to be all 'suite ships' by 2019," 16 Mar. 2018
There was even a cutback in the budget for the Dunkin Donuts and coffee that McCain preferred on his Straight Talk Express.

— Newsweek, "Analysis," 14 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cutback.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of cutback

1897

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

cut back

verb

Definition of cut back

transitive verb

: to shorten by cutting : prune

intransitive verb

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

See cut back defined for kids

Examples of cut back in a Sentence

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 of cut back from the Web

Thousands of miles to the south of Zagora, residents of Cape Town, South Africa, have cut back massively to avoid running out of water.

— sophie nunnally, USA TODAY, "In Morocco, residents never know when water will flow so they leave the taps on," 5 Apr. 2018
High-income Cape Town families have cut their average water use by 80%, according to Martine Visser, director of the Environmental Policy Research Unit at the University of Cape Town, while low-income families cut back by 40%.

— robyn dixon, latimes.com, "How Cape Town found water savings California never dreamed of," 1 Apr. 2018
The middle class has cut back on everything from groceries to education.

— The Economist, "Egypt’s sham election features two candidates, but no choice," 22 Mar. 2018
Pruitt appears poised to cut back on his first-class travel.

— brady dennis and juliet eilperin, chicagotribune.com, "New documents show nearly $68,000 in recent premium flights, hotel stays for EPA's Pruitt," 21 Mar. 2018
And the higher rates go, the more people will have to cut back, which translates into slower economic growth.

— evan horowitz, BostonGlobe.com, "As the Fed keeps raising rates, consumers will start to feel the effects," 21 Mar. 2018
Still, at a certain point, Netflix may need to cut back on the categories and go back to basics.

— madeline buxton, refinery29.com, "How Netflix Comes Up With Its Oddly Specific Category Names," 16 Mar. 2018
The risks were made plain by a late 2017 decision by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which works fearlessly on front lines around the world, to substantially cut back in Afghanistan after three separate, lethal incidents.

— scott peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, "Is West winning in Afghanistan? Tide of displaced people suggests not.," 14 Mar. 2018
Many folks prefer to make their own sauce, which provides full control over the ingredient list, allowing us to cut back on (or omit) salt and sugar.

— molly kimball, NOLA.com, "Which Louisiana-made jarred pasta sauce is the healthiest?," 13 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cut back.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.