What are the definitions of “cut down”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Consume less.
I'm trying to CUT DOWN the amount of coffee I drink during the day.
- 2Shoot.
A lot of soldiers were CUT DOWN by enemy fire as they stormed the airport.
- 3Reduce a vertical thing to ground level by cutting.
The logger CUT the tree DOWN.
- 4Cut something from a high position.
After Christmas he didn't carefully detach all the decorations, he just CUT them all DOWN.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “cut down”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb cut down is to reduce or decrease something, such as the amount of something you consume or use. For example, it can mean reducing the amount of coffee you drink, cutting down on spending, or reducing the number of hours you work.
What are the different verb forms of “cut down”?
| Root Verb | cut down |
| Third Person Singular Present | cuts down |
| Present Participle | cutting down |
| Simple Past | cut down |
| Past Participle | cut down |
Example
I need to cut down on my sugar intake.
Example
She cuts down on her screen time before bed.
Example
He is cutting down on his daily caffeine consumption.
Example
Yesterday, they cut down their expenses by shopping smarter.
Example
The number of cigarettes he smoked was cut down significantly.
What kind of phrasal verb is “cut down”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“cut down” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
She cut down her coffee consumption.
Example
He cut the tree down in the backyard.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“cut down” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
She cut down her coffee consumption.
Example
He cut the tree down in the backyard.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “cut down”?
Good things to know
Does “cut down” have an informal or formal tone?
Cut down is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is commonly used in everyday conversations, but it can also be used in more formal settings, such as in a business meeting or a written report, depending on the specific context.
