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

see also:

cut down to size

Examples of cut down in a Sentence

we need to cut down that dying tree

Recent Examples on the Web

Every single palm tree was carefully considered in the layout, and not a single one was cut down during the process—no mean feat given that 60 sprawling villas dot the hillside. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026

Swenson says that cable actually belongs to AT&T, and was cut down from telephone poles by thieves. —John Ruwitch, NPR, 3 June 2026

The company has even introduced a recycling program for its sandals, TevaForever, which cuts down on waste. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 3 June 2026

According to the nonprofit, 300 million trees are cut down annually to create these fibers via conventional methods, including trees in climate-critical and biodiversity-rich forests. —Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 1 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, 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)