cut back

verb

cut back; cutting back; cuts back

transitive verb

: to shorten by cutting : prune

intransitive verb

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 of cut back

• shave
• cut
• clip
• trim
• lop (off)

Examples of cut back in a Sentence

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

Americans have been increasingly pushed to the cash-pay market and, at the same time, employers have been cutting back on their coverage of the drugs. —Ed Silverman, STAT, 3 June 2026

This could look like budgeting more seriously or cutting back on emotional spending. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026

Rather than seek new revenue sources, the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association has argued the county has a spending problem and should instead consider areas to cut back. —Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 2 June 2026

With inflation and rising costs, many people are cutting back on their spending. —Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 1 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for cut back

• aback
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback

Kids Definition

cutback

1 of 2 noun

cut·​back ˈkət-ˌbak 

: an act or instance of cutting something back

cut back

2 of 2 verb

ˈkət-ˈbak

1

a

: prune entry 2 sense 2

b

: prune entry 2 sense 2a

2

: to reduce something in amount

cut back on smoking