whittle down

phrasal verb

whittled down; whittling down; whittles down

: to gradually make (something) smaller by removing parts

We whittled the list down to four people.

Examples of whittle down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Paris and London have invested billions in expanding their regional rail web, extending transit service, whittling down traffic, and shifting primacy to pedestrians. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 18 Apr. 2025

Instead, such an answer would only whittle down the probability a bit. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 7 Apr. 2025

With its book whittled down so much and its careful hedging to only speaking the broadest generalities about Cuba’s history, Buena Vista Social Club only aims modestly high, just above the level of a tribute concert. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025

One of the most alluring varieties is the romanesco—which any visitor to Rome’s famous market, the Campo de’ Fiori, has watched picturesque elders whittle down with a sort of ancient expertise and elegance. —Tamar Adler, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2025

Rhymes for whittle down

• chinatown
• tumbledown
• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown