cut down

verb

cut down; cutting down; cuts down
Synonyms of cut downnext

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In Stearns County, an 18-year-old was charged with a felony for cutting down a law enforcement camera that reads license plates. — Ashley Grams, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026 The environmental payoff Seasonal eating also cuts down on food miles, the long-distance transport that out-of-season produce racks up on its way to your plate. — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026 SafeSport has since resolved many of those issues, improving its process to resolve cases more quickly and cut down its backlog, the organization said. — Molly Hensley-Clancy, ProPublica, 13 Aug. 2026 Uebergang says consistency is key, and this helps cut down on fingerprints. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cut down

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of cut down was in the 14th century

Rhymes for cut down

See All Rhymes for cut down

Browse Nearby Words

cut costs
cut down
cut down to size
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cut down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cut%20down. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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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 How to pronounce cutdown (audio)
: incision of a superficial blood vessel (as a vein) to facilitate insertion of a catheter (as for administration of fluids)

More from Merriam-Webster on cut down

Nglish: Translation of cut down for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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