whittle down
phrasal verb
whittled down; whittling down; whittles down
: to gradually make (something) smaller by removing parts
We whittled the list down to four people.
Examples of whittle down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2022, Madonna told Variety that whittling down the script had been a challenge.
—
Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2025
In February 1968, NASA's Apollo Site Selection Board revealed five potential landing sites for Apollo 11 — whittled down from a list of 30 — including two that were on the opposite side of the lunar disk from Tranquility base, in Oceanus Procellarum (the Ocean of Storms).
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 20 July 2025
Meanwhile, the day proved difficult for some of the earlier breakaway hopefuls, as the steep gradients and relentless tempo whittled down the field.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
Google also whittled down its initial pledge to match that amount.
—Lia Russell
updated July 14, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for whittle down
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Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2025
In February 1968, NASA's Apollo Site Selection Board revealed five potential landing sites for Apollo 11 — whittled down from a list of 30 — including two that were on the opposite side of the lunar disk from Tranquility base, in Oceanus Procellarum (the Ocean of Storms).
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 20 July 2025
Meanwhile, the day proved difficult for some of the earlier breakaway hopefuls, as the steep gradients and relentless tempo whittled down the field.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 July 2025
Google also whittled down its initial pledge to match that amount.
—Lia Russell
updated July 14, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for whittle down
Cite this Entry
“Whittle down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whittle%20down. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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