scale back
B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To make something smaller or do less of it.
Literal meaning: To move a scale back to a smaller setting — fairly transparent.
Meanings
1 B2 neutral
To reduce the scale, size, or extent of an activity, plan, or operation.
"Due to budget constraints, the company scaled back its expansion plans for the year."
Grammar: separable
2 B2 neutral
To reduce one's involvement or commitment to something.
"After the injury, he scaled back his training schedule to allow his body to recover."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Widely used in business, politics, and news reporting. Often applies to plans, operations, production, or ambitions. Common in American and British English.
Commonly used with
plans operations production ambitions spending involvement
Forms
Base
scale back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
scales back
he/she/it
Past simple
scaled back
yesterday
Past participle
scaled back
have + pp
-ing form
scaling back
continuous
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