Phrase guide

cut back

verb · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To reduce the amount of (something).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive, with-on

Examples

  • The foliage is out of control and needs to be cut back.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To reduce spending.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, with-on

Examples

  • We need to cut back heavily on office supplies. Is there another vendor we can use?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To reduce consumption.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, often, with-on

Examples

  • He needs to cut back on doughnuts. He weighs 289 pounds!
  • I've cut back to one pack of cigarettes a week.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To perform the cutback maneuver.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports, surfing

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To use a short cut; to move to a location to block someone; to cut someone off

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, often

Examples

  • He almost scored but the defender cut back to him.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

place restrictions on

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • curtail drinking in school

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: restrict, curtail, curb

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: limit, circumscribe, confine

Narrower terms: abridge, immobilize, immobilise

7

verb

Meaning 7

cut down on; make a reduction in

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • reduce your daily fat intake
  • The employer wants to cut back health benefits

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: reduce, cut down, trim, trim down, trim back, cut, bring down

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: decrease, lessen, minify

Narrower terms: shorten, spill, quench, retrench, slash, thin out, thin, take away, detract, deflate, inflate, downsize, subtract, shave, knock off

8

verb

Meaning 8

cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • dress the plants in the garden

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: snip, clip, crop, trim, lop, dress, prune

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: thin out

Narrower terms: shear, poll, pollard, top, pinch, disbud

9

verb

Meaning 9

return in time

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the film cut back to an earlier event in the story

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: flash back

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: return

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.