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.
License plate readers have been shot at in Tennessee, hit with a truck in California, beat with a baseball bat in Virginia, cut down with a saw in Texas and splattered with paint in New York. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026 Army Secretary Dan Driscoll announced the initiative at a military testing range in Michigan, telling reporters that this effort would cut down months of red tape that military contractors must go through before launching new technology. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 8 Aug. 2026 Her other suggestions to cut down on PFAS exposure include avoiding non-stick pans that leach PFAS into food, spill-resistant carpets and long-lasting cosmetics, like all-day lipstick. — Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026 Backed in the early days by organic farming advocates, regenerative agriculture may also cut down or eliminate synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, but puts a sharper focus on soil health and biodiversity. — Bloomberg, Fortune, 7 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 12 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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