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trim down

B1 neutral separable both
In simple words

To make something smaller or lighter by cutting off or removing parts you don't need.

Literal meaning: To cut the edges or excess off something to make it smaller.

Meanings

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."

Grammar: inseparable
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."

Grammar: 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."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

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.

Commonly used with

budget costs waistline staff report essay

Forms

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

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Synonyms

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