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

But foul trouble started to become an issue as Illinois got into the double bonus and slowly cut down the lead from the free throw line. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026

The ball took a lucky bounce off the wall, allowing Young to catch it cleanly, turn and throw in plenty of time to cut down the runner. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026

One of the Rockies’ major goals during the offseason and spring training was to cut down on strikeouts and their chase rate. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026

Instead of being thrown out, these items will be washed and reused in an effort to cut down on plastic waste at CHS Field. —Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 4 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)