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
Synonyms
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
Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 16 Aug. 2023
The cutback — the latest in a series under owner Walt Disney Co. — involves some 19 editorial staffers in all, who were notified in April that these terminations were coming.
—Paul Farhi, Washington Post, 28 June 2023
Employees involved in the cutbacks will receive severance pay based on tenure plus at least 60 days of transition leave including pay and benefits.
—Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 24 Aug. 2023
The cutbacks were a sign of the strain on local governments caused in part by the downturn in real estate that had hurt land sales, a reliable source of revenue.
—Alexandra Stevenson, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2023
San Jose cut its payroll during the Great Recession and these cutbacks have not been restored.
—Mark Davidson, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2023
Read full article The cutbacks come as some conservative politicians rail against the liberal arts for being, well, too liberal.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Aug. 2023
However, this cutback will leave Amazon with just three in-house clothing brands: Amazon Essentials, Amazon Collection, and Amazon Aware.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 10 Aug. 2023
Some lawmakers have decided to step in and try to make a dent, and environmentalists are hopeful government pressure can make a change where voluntary cutbacks by plastic producers and packaging companies don’t.
—Susanne Rust, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Aug. 2023
Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023
Crooning to the camera, the footage cut back and forth between Carey solo in a field, rolling in the grass and also featured multiple shots with dancers dressed in a variety of styles.
—Marisa Sullivan, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023
Last year, Giant Delivers cut back minimum online order requirements and eliminated fees on midweek orders.
—Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, 11 Sep. 2023
The film cuts back and forth between the late 1980s and the lead-up to and early days of World War II, just after the annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938.
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Sep. 2023
Drew Angerer/Getty Images US executives drastically cut back on public discussions of workplace diversity last quarter, in the first earnings season since the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action sent a chill through corporate boardrooms.
—Redd Brown, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2023
This includes cutting back carbohydrates to 50 grams a day or less, for at least two to three weeks up to six to 12 months, per the National Library of Medicine.
—Amanda MacMillan, Health, 8 Sep. 2023
Riot cut back on its power usage by over 95% during peak demand periods, according to a Wednesday report from the Castle Rock, Colo.-based bitcoin mining company.
—Irving Mejia-Hilario, Dallas News, 8 Sep. 2023
Roku said these measures will include consolidating office space, cutting back on outside expenses, and limiting new hires — the typical steps companies take in these moments.
—Chris Welch, The Verge, 6 Sep. 2023
See More
Noun
Loomis and Henle also visited Las Vegas and other cities on the river to show the different approaches to conserving water as deepening cutbacks loomed.
—Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 16 Aug. 2023
The cutback — the latest in a series under owner Walt Disney Co. — involves some 19 editorial staffers in all, who were notified in April that these terminations were coming.
—Paul Farhi, Washington Post, 28 June 2023
Employees involved in the cutbacks will receive severance pay based on tenure plus at least 60 days of transition leave including pay and benefits.
—Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 24 Aug. 2023
The cutbacks were a sign of the strain on local governments caused in part by the downturn in real estate that had hurt land sales, a reliable source of revenue.
—Alexandra Stevenson, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2023
San Jose cut its payroll during the Great Recession and these cutbacks have not been restored.
—Mark Davidson, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2023
Read full article The cutbacks come as some conservative politicians rail against the liberal arts for being, well, too liberal.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Aug. 2023
However, this cutback will leave Amazon with just three in-house clothing brands: Amazon Essentials, Amazon Collection, and Amazon Aware.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 10 Aug. 2023
Some lawmakers have decided to step in and try to make a dent, and environmentalists are hopeful government pressure can make a change where voluntary cutbacks by plastic producers and packaging companies don’t.
—Susanne Rust, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Aug. 2023
Verb
Russia cut back on its attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid during the summer.
—Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023
Crooning to the camera, the footage cut back and forth between Carey solo in a field, rolling in the grass and also featured multiple shots with dancers dressed in a variety of styles.
—Marisa Sullivan, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023
Last year, Giant Delivers cut back minimum online order requirements and eliminated fees on midweek orders.
—Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, 11 Sep. 2023
The film cuts back and forth between the late 1980s and the lead-up to and early days of World War II, just after the annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938.
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Sep. 2023
Drew Angerer/Getty Images US executives drastically cut back on public discussions of workplace diversity last quarter, in the first earnings season since the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action sent a chill through corporate boardrooms.
—Redd Brown, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2023
This includes cutting back carbohydrates to 50 grams a day or less, for at least two to three weeks up to six to 12 months, per the National Library of Medicine.
—Amanda MacMillan, Health, 8 Sep. 2023
Riot cut back on its power usage by over 95% during peak demand periods, according to a Wednesday report from the Castle Rock, Colo.-based bitcoin mining company.
—Irving Mejia-Hilario, Dallas News, 8 Sep. 2023
Roku said these measures will include consolidating office space, cutting back on outside expenses, and limiting new hires — the typical steps companies take in these moments.
—Chris Welch, The Verge, 6 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cutback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1871, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Dictionary Entries Near cutback
Cite this Entry
“Cutback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutback. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids 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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