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

While Taylor proved an upgrade over Andrew Wylie and cut down on his penalties over time, his sixth-highest, $20 million number among right tackles is too rich when the Chiefs are so far over the cap. —Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 1 Feb. 2026

Checking your home inventory first also helps prevent duplicate purchases and cuts down on food waste, which is one of the biggest hidden costs of grocery shopping. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026

And while some families might be able to cut down on toys, others might be bothered having toys in every room. —Jillian Pretzel, Parents, 31 Jan. 2026

Mueller theorized the rain actually cut down on the chaos factor that usually runs high in Formula E races. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b

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)