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

Then an elbow injury cut down on his playing time last fall with the Thunderbirds. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 12 Nov. 2026

The story follows a willow tree that forms a deep attachment to a farmer’s daughter before being cut down. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2026

Researchers also found that lowering blood pressure in people with diabetes didn’t help cut down on heart attacks, and educating emergency responders and bystanders to improve their responses to sudden cardiac arrest didn’t keep more people alive. — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 10 Nov. 2026

The new message describes good days and bad days, and a promotional schedule cut down to fit them. — Lars Hanson, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Nov. 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)