Phrase guide

pare down

verb · 2 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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1

verb

Meaning 1

To reduce by paring or a similar gradual process.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

decrease gradually or bit by bit

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pare

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: decrease, lessen, minify

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: osekat — to reduce by paring
  • Czech: ořezat — to reduce by paring
  • Czech: zredukovat — to reduce by paring
  • Czech: snížit — to reduce by paring
  • German: beschneiden — to reduce by paring
  • Māori: runa — to reduce by paring
  • Polish: zmniejszać — to reduce by paring
  • Polish: zmniejszyć — to reduce by paring
  • Polish: redukować — to reduce by paring
  • Polish: zredukować — to reduce by paring
  • Russian: обстру́гивать (obstrúgivatʹ) — to reduce by paring
  • Swedish: skära ner — to reduce by paring