cut down
verb
cut down; cutting down; cuts down
1
a
: to strike down and kill or incapacitate
b
2
a
: to remodel by removing extras or unwanted furnishings and fittings
b
: to remake in a smaller size
: 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
Although Kansas cut down its turnovers, the Jayhawks couldn’t buy a bucket.
—
Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2026
Tree species such as oak, willow, maple, poplar, birch, and eucalyptus are especially good at this and can regrow surprisingly quickly, particularly if the tree was relatively young and healthy when it was cut down.
—Steven John, Architectural Digest, 13 Feb. 2026
Groft was accused of cutting down 12 trees, as well as sawing the limb off a 13th, across a seven-day period beginning April 13 — sometimes in broad daylight, other times in the dead of night.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Unlike blue or white, which can double down on or reflect the blue light of your computer screen, green absorbs it, cutting down on the optical chaos you’re subjected to all day long.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cut down
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Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2026
Tree species such as oak, willow, maple, poplar, birch, and eucalyptus are especially good at this and can regrow surprisingly quickly, particularly if the tree was relatively young and healthy when it was cut down.
—Steven John, Architectural Digest, 13 Feb. 2026
Groft was accused of cutting down 12 trees, as well as sawing the limb off a 13th, across a seven-day period beginning April 13 — sometimes in broad daylight, other times in the dead of night.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Unlike blue or white, which can double down on or reflect the blue light of your computer screen, green absorbs it, cutting down on the optical chaos you’re subjected to all day long.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cut down
Cite this Entry
“Cut down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cut%20down. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical 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)
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