cut down

verb

cut down; cutting down; cuts down

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

Pepsi is planning cost reductions to cut down on redundancies and discretionary spending to pay for investments in innovation and marketing, Laguarta said in prepared remarks. — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

The district’s goal is for these schools to earn an A or B in the state’s annual A-F accountability ratings in 2027, while cutting down on summer learning loss. — Lina Ruiz october 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Oct. 2026

Take an apple here and there, but don’t start cutting down the tree. — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026

Carrie’s grandfather or maybe great grandfather had built it with his sons, the planks brought in from Omaha since any hardwood around Platte had long been cut down. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for cut down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

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 

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