cut down

British  

verb

1. (tr) to fell

2. to reduce or make a reduction (in)

   to cut down on drink

3. (tr) to remake (an old garment) in order to make a smaller one

4. (tr) to kill

   he was cut down in battle

5. to reduce in importance or decrease the conceit of

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cut down Idioms  

1. Kill, as in The troops were cut down one by one as they crossed the field . [Early 1800s]

2. Also, cut down on . Reduce, decrease, as in I want to cut down my caffeine intake , or We have to cut down on our expenses . [Mid-1800s]

3. cut down to size ; knock down to size . Reduce the self-importance of, humble, as in He's so arrogant—I wish someone would cut him down to size , or She really got knocked down to size when her class ranking slipped . [Early 1900s]

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Example Sentences

"It's ridiculous," he said, lamenting how he has had to cut down on driving.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Although the court ruling has been lauded as a "game-changing moment" for social media companies, it's of little practical use to parents across the world who are trying to cut down their kids' screen time.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

In recent years, gaming companies including Electronic Arts and Microsoft’s Xbox division have all cut down their workforces.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

India and Pakistan have already begun to limit how much liquified petroleum gas businesses can use, while Sri Lanka declared Wednesdays a public holiday for the foreseeable future to cut down on fuel use.

From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026

“Do you have any idea how many trees are cut down each year just so we can hang pretty lights on them?”

From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass