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

Phrases

cut down to size

: to reduce from an inflated or exaggerated importance to true or suitable stature

Examples of cut down in a Sentence

we need to cut down that dying tree

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, a business might choose to cut down on flights by grouping client visits into one trip rather than going back and forth to the same area. —Egor Karpovich, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025

Water heating is typically the second-highest use of energy in a home, so taking colder showers could help cut down your electric bill. —Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 17 July 2025

William Franklyn-Miller will be cutting down the cherry tree. —Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 17 July 2025

The motion detection is smart, too, distinguishing between people, pets, and vehicles, which cuts down on false alerts. —PC Magazine, 14 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1571, 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)