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

With the festive season just around the corner, many Americans are cutting down on spending for Christmas gifts. —Rachel Wells, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Police responded to a report of a man with a weapon cutting down art exhibit signs in Liberty Lands Park. —Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024

The carpenters' pension fund had previously sought permission from the U.S. Treasury to slash members' pension checks by amounts such as 16% to 26%, in hopes of delaying even bigger cuts down the line, but has withdrawn its request for those near-term cuts because of the new infusion. —Jc Reindl, Detroit Free Press, 17 Oct. 2024

Instead of shutting down its 33 Raptor engines, the Super Heavy only cut down to three engines before separation. —David Szondy, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1571, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

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)