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

Sick trees are often cut down to prevent spread and reduce fire risk. —Olivia Young, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026

Huskies still working to cut down on turnovers Wednesday’s game was UConn’s ninth this season and fourth in a row with at least 10 turnovers as the Huskies finished with 14, which prevented them from pulling away even further as their lead sat around 20 points all night. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 1 Jan. 2026

This cuts down on moisture, too, leading to a creamier, less icy final result. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025

She's also cut down on doom scrolling before bed—but doesn't deny herself completely. —Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b

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)