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

While an investigation is underway, police estimated during a press conference on Wednesday that the number of trees cut down was 11, according to KNBC. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025

Some employees had been furloughed to cut down on costs, and Outside had developed a reputation for not paying freelancers in a timely manner. —Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025

Trump has long argued that the Fed, which sets monetary policy in the U.S., should cut down interest rates. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 18 Apr. 2025

This particular death achieves that and also cuts down on what the show has left to adapt. —ArsTechnica, 18 Apr. 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)