1
: something cut back
2
: reduction
a cutback in funding
cut back; cutting back; cuts back
: to shorten by cutting : prune
1
: to interrupt the sequence of a plot (as of a movie) by introducing events prior to those last presented
2
: cut down
cut back on sugar
Examples of cutback in a Sentence
Verb
we need to cut back the bushes a bit so that the house number is visible from the street
cut back the meeting so everyone could leave early for the long weekend
Recent Examples on the Web
Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2025
The capital expenditures figure — which rose 53% to $16.75 billion, excluding finance leases — relieved investors worried a cutback in spending from the hyperscalers would hurt other AI companies.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 1 May 2025
Malia Griggs, Glamour, 2 May 2025
But faced with higher prices for consumer goods, many households would cut back on spending, adding to the challenges of relying on tariffs to raise enough revenue to replace income taxes, experts say.
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cutback
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Noun
Federal officials also are eyeing cutbacks in assistance for K-12 education, public colleges and universities, and other health care programs that could cost the state and its municipalities hundreds of millions in additional yearly assistance.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2025
The capital expenditures figure — which rose 53% to $16.75 billion, excluding finance leases — relieved investors worried a cutback in spending from the hyperscalers would hurt other AI companies.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 1 May 2025
Verb
Our tester said the formula defined and isolated her curls, cut back on frizz, and smoothly detangled her strands before heat styling.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 2 May 2025
But faced with higher prices for consumer goods, many households would cut back on spending, adding to the challenges of relying on tariffs to raise enough revenue to replace income taxes, experts say.
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cutback
Cite this Entry
“Cutback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutback. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cutback
1 of 2 noun
cut·back
ˈkət-ˌbak 
: an act or instance of cutting something back
cut back
2 of 2 verbˈkət-ˈbak
1
2
: to reduce something in amount
cut back on smoking
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