1 B1 neutral
To lose weight or reduce one's body size through diet or exercise.
"She trimmed down significantly after joining the gym and changing her diet."
inseparable
trim down
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To reduce something in size, quantity, or weight by cutting away the excess.
In plain English
To make something smaller or lighter by cutting off or removing parts you don't need.
What does "trim down" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To reduce the size, length, or quantity of something by removing what is not needed.
"The editor asked her to trim down the article by 200 words."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
To reduce costs, a budget, or the size of an organization.
"The company was forced to trim down its workforce in response to falling sales."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To cut the edges or excess off something to make it smaller.
Actually means
To make something smaller or lighter by cutting off or removing parts you don't need.
Usage tip
Used both literally (trimming physical objects or one's body) and figuratively (reducing costs, text, or a workforce). 'Trim down' for body weight is common in health and fitness contexts. The intransitive use ('he trimmed down') is common for weight loss.
Words that pair with "trim down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
budget costs waistline staff report essay
How to conjugate "trim down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
trim down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
trims down
he/she/it
Past simple
trimed down
yesterday
Past participle
trimed down
have + pp
-ing form
triming down
continuous
Hear "trim down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "trim down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "trim down"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.