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

Phrases

cut down to size

: to reduce from an inflated or exaggerated importance to true or suitable stature

Examples of cut down in a Sentence

we need to cut down that dying tree

Recent Examples on the Web

In the name of fixing the economy and jumpstarting home-soil industries, the President may raise consumer prices, while cutting down on accessible imports and agitating for a more nationalistic, even localized, culture. —Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 9 May 2025

Jurors heard how the two men sometimes worked together and had experience of cutting down large trees. —Jack Guy, CNN Money, 9 May 2025

During the trial, the jury saw footage from Graham's phone — which was later sent to Carruthers — of the tree being cut down, according to CBS. —Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 9 May 2025

Maikel Garcia charged and threw to the plate to cut down Andrew Vaughn. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1571, 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)