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

Phrases

cut down to size

: to reduce from an inflated or exaggerated importance to true or suitable stature

Examples of cut down in a Sentence

we need to cut down that dying tree

Recent Examples on the Web

Plus, reducing portion sizes cuts down on the excess waste that’s become a major problem in the industry. —Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025

When the hat passes muster, its leather sweatband will be cut down to size and applied by skilled sewers. —Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025

Human crews then complete the securing process, cutting down on repetitive manual labor while increasing efficiency and reducing injury risks. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025

Unlike other fusion developers, Type One only aims to design and manufacture equipment for the plants—not own and operate them—dramatically cutting down on its capital costs and speeding up Type One’s potential to ramp up. —Jordan Blum, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1571, 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)