cutout

1 of 3

noun

cut·​out ˈkət-ˌau̇t 

1

: something cut out or off from something else

also : the space or hole left after cutting

2

: one that cuts out

3

: an intermediary in a clandestine operation

4

: a record album no longer in production that is sold at a discount

cutout adjective

cut out

2 of 3

verb

cut out; cutting out; cuts out

transitive verb

1

: to remove by cutting

cut out a recipe from a magazine

2

: to form or shape by cutting or carving

cut out a big red heart from the paper

3

: to determine or assign through necessity

You've got your work cut out for you.

4

: to take the place of : supplant

plans to cut out his rivals

5

: to put an end to : desist from

cut out wasteful spending

6

: deprive, defraud

cut him out of his share

7

a

: to remove from a series or circuit : disconnect

cut out a car from a train

b

: to make inoperative

intransitive verb

1

: to depart in haste

2

: to cease operating

the engine cut out

3

: to swerve out of a traffic line

cut out

3 of 3

adjective

: naturally fitted or suited

not cut out for this job

Synonyms of cutout

Verb

• die
• fail
• crash
• stall
• break down

Examples of cutout in a Sentence

Noun

a cardboard cutout of a famous actor

Verb

the engine abruptly cut out

now cut that out, or I'm turning this car around!

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And right in the middle is a cutout whose shape evokes the head of a bald eagle — and that's the name that Krasner gave to this collage. — Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026

Concealed behind a cutout made to look like a row of theater seats are the monitors the guys use to watch the movie in real time along with their scripts. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Verb

Kerry McCoy’s guitar juices up a mid-song gallop by abruptly pivoting from big and noisy to compressed and snarling; at the climax, everything cuts out for a second to spotlight a Daniel Tracy drum fill. — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026

If mechanical parts fail or electricity cuts out, coolant circulation can quickly stop. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1645, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Adjective

1645, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cutout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• devout
• dropout
• dugout

Kids Definition

cutout

1 of 3 noun

cut·​out ˈkət-ˌau̇t 

: something cut out or off from something else

cutout adjective

cut out

2 of 3 verb

1

: to assign through necessity

you've got your work cut out for you

2

: to put an end to

now cut that out

3

: to come to a stop

the engines cut out

cut out

3 of 3 adjective

: naturally suited

not cut out for teaching