whittle Definition
- 1to carve wood into an object by repeatedly cutting small, thin pieces from it
- 2to gradually reduce the size or amount of something
Using whittle: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "whittle" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He whittled a toy boat out of a piece of wood.
Example
She whittled away at the stick until it was sharp enough to use as a spear.
Example
The company is trying to whittle down its debt.
Example
He whittled his list of potential candidates down to three.
Example
She whittled her waistline down by exercising and eating healthy.
whittle Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with whittle
Example
The team needs to whittle down the list of potential candidates for the job.
Example
She whittled away at the pile of paperwork on her desk.
Example
He kept whittling on about how he deserved a promotion.
Origins of whittle
from Old English 'thwitan', meaning 'to cut off'
Summary: whittle in Brief
The verb 'whittle' [ˈwɪtl] means to carve wood by cutting small pieces from it or to gradually reduce the size or amount of something. Examples include 'He whittled a toy boat out of a piece of wood' and 'The company is trying to whittle down its debt.' Phrases like 'whittle down' and 'whittle away' also denote gradual reduction.
