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

He was helped out in the sixth as Trevor Larnach and Brooks Lee combined to cut down a runner trying to score. —Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026

The actions boil down to cutting down the amount of plastic being produced, better managing and recycling plastics already in circulation and cleaning up the plastic that gets into the natural environment, Baechler told ABC News. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026

Amazon sellers based in China can now store their goods in bulk closer to the product’s origin to cut down on warehousing costs and better optimize inventory replenishment based on consumer demand. —Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 22 Apr. 2026

At a moment when budgets remain tight, cutting down on the meat being served by catering, going paperless and encouraging reusable water bottles are easy ways for a set to keep costs low while also being eco-friendly. —Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 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)