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.
Hilton is additionally seeking to cut down on red tape for block parties, food pop-ups, beer gardens, weddings, among other proposals. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026 Head coach Rhett Lashlee is back despite SEC interest, as is third-year starting quarterback Kevin Jennings, who will need to cut down on interceptions after throwing 13 picks in 2025. — Justin Williams, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 More broadly, campus programs to support the academic success of Latino and Black students have also been cut down at some UC campuses, though administrators have blamed budget cuts for the drawdowns. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026 According to officials, the Clackamas County SWAT Team responded to a report of an armed neighbor firing at professional arborists hired to cut down trees in a rural residential and farm area. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 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 7 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

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)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gist

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All