1 A2 neutral
To reduce the amount or frequency of something, especially something unhealthy.
"My doctor told me to cut down on caffeine if I want to sleep better."
separable
cut down
A2 neutral separable transitive
To reduce the amount of something; to fell a tree; or to knock someone down or kill them.
In plain English
To use less of something, to chop a tree so it falls, or to make someone fall by hitting or attacking them.
What does "cut down" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
To cut through a tree at the base so that it falls.
"They cut down the old oak tree because its roots were damaging the foundations of the house."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
To kill or seriously injure someone, especially in battle.
"Many young soldiers were cut down in the first hours of the battle."
“
They were cut down by machine-gun fire.
— Common formulation in World War I and II historical accounts, widely used in war journalism and literature.
separable
4 B2 idiomatic informal
To make someone feel small or worthless by criticizing or belittling them.
"He was always cutting her down in front of their colleagues, which was deeply unfair."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To cut something so that it falls down.
Actually means
To use less of something, to chop a tree so it falls, or to make someone fall by hitting or attacking them.
Usage tip
One of the most common phrasal verbs with 'cut'. The 'reduce' sense is very common in health contexts ('cut down on sugar'). The 'fell a tree' sense is literal and transparent. The 'kill or destroy' sense is more literary.
Words that pair with "cut down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
tree sugar smoking costs enemy forest
How to conjugate "cut down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
cut down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cuts down
he/she/it
Past simple
cut down
yesterday
Past participle
cut down
have + pp
-ing form
cutting down
continuous
Hear "cut down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "cut down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.