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
Synonyms
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
Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024
The reductions will be effective March 31 and add up to about a 2% cutback across the departments, the company said.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024
Ian also talked with representatives for the river’s upper and lower basin states, who just filed competing plans for the long-term cutbacks that will be needed to ensure a sustainable future.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024
The lending institution has constantly urged the government to depreciate the currency and embark on monetary and fiscal tightening policies, including a cutback in government subsidies.
—Noha Elhennawy, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024
But during the past two years, Joann's sales have tumbled, with the company blaming consumer cutbacks due to inflation and other economic challenges.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2024
That does not include recent emergency cutbacks to get the region through the next three years, with irrigators accepting federal funds to leave more water in Mead.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024
The pace of Bay Area tech layoffs so far in 2024 remains below the cutbacks in the industry over the same time frame in 2023 — even as a widening number of technology companies continue to chop employees.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024
In Brooklyn Heights, a couple that wanted to have a second child is reconsidering, anxious over crushing child care expenses and cutbacks to prekindergarten programs.
—Troy Closson, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024
Allison Robicelli, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
More recently, however, companies have backtracked on those commitments, laying off their DEI officers and cutting back on related training.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2024
Try to cut back on being busy, and instead shift your focus onto filling your days with meaningful hobbies, tasks, and connections that bring you joy and ease.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2024
Multiple businesses have plans to axe hundreds of jobs, as well as cut back hours and freeze hiring, the report shows.
—USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
One wonders how many retirees cut back their spending in 2022 when inflation spiked and the market fell.
—Rob Berger, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
What’s your take on consumers’ willingness to add more streaming services or cut back on their subscriptions?
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024
Everyone claims to have the best trick to cut back on tears when cutting onions, but CNN talked to experts to see which ones are worth their salt.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024
So Nike is cutting back supply to try to juice demand and sell them at full prices.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
Nike said the cutback will hurt its sales during its upcoming fiscal year.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024
The reductions will be effective March 31 and add up to about a 2% cutback across the departments, the company said.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024
Ian also talked with representatives for the river’s upper and lower basin states, who just filed competing plans for the long-term cutbacks that will be needed to ensure a sustainable future.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024
The lending institution has constantly urged the government to depreciate the currency and embark on monetary and fiscal tightening policies, including a cutback in government subsidies.
—Noha Elhennawy, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024
But during the past two years, Joann's sales have tumbled, with the company blaming consumer cutbacks due to inflation and other economic challenges.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2024
That does not include recent emergency cutbacks to get the region through the next three years, with irrigators accepting federal funds to leave more water in Mead.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024
The pace of Bay Area tech layoffs so far in 2024 remains below the cutbacks in the industry over the same time frame in 2023 — even as a widening number of technology companies continue to chop employees.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024
In Brooklyn Heights, a couple that wanted to have a second child is reconsidering, anxious over crushing child care expenses and cutbacks to prekindergarten programs.
—Troy Closson, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024
Verb
There are craft beer connoisseurs who are cutting back on their drinking.
—Allison Robicelli, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
More recently, however, companies have backtracked on those commitments, laying off their DEI officers and cutting back on related training.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2024
Try to cut back on being busy, and instead shift your focus onto filling your days with meaningful hobbies, tasks, and connections that bring you joy and ease.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2024
Multiple businesses have plans to axe hundreds of jobs, as well as cut back hours and freeze hiring, the report shows.
—USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
One wonders how many retirees cut back their spending in 2022 when inflation spiked and the market fell.
—Rob Berger, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
What’s your take on consumers’ willingness to add more streaming services or cut back on their subscriptions?
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2024
Everyone claims to have the best trick to cut back on tears when cutting onions, but CNN talked to experts to see which ones are worth their salt.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024
So Nike is cutting back supply to try to juice demand and sell them at full prices.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cutback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1871, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Dictionary Entries Near cutback
Cite this Entry
“Cutback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutback. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids 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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