1 C1 idiomatic neutral
To reduce a large set of people, options, or items by a careful process of selection and elimination.
"The committee winnowed down three hundred applications to a shortlist of twelve."
separable
winnow down
C1 neutral separable transitive
To reduce a large group or set by carefully removing the inferior, irrelevant, or unwanted elements.
In plain English
To sort through a big group and get rid of the ones that don't make the cut, leaving only the best.
What does "winnow down" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To winnow grain is to blow away the chaff, leaving only the valuable kernels — the metaphor maps directly onto selection processes.
Actually means
To sort through a big group and get rid of the ones that don't make the cut, leaving only the best.
Usage tip
From the agricultural process of winnowing grain — tossing it into the air so the wind blows away the chaff. Common in formal writing, journalism, and academic contexts. Used when describing the selection process for candidates, options, or ideas.
Words that pair with "winnow down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
candidates options list applicants choices field
How to conjugate "winnow down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
winnow down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
winnows down
he/she/it
Past simple
winnowed down
yesterday
Past participle
winnowed down
have + pp
-ing form
winnowing down
continuous
Hear "winnow down" in the wild
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