# winnow down

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/winnow-down
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To reduce the number of candidates for something by judging their quality and rejecting some.

## Examples

- We need to winnow down the list of candidates to three people.
- The committee spent all afternoon reviewing applications to winnow down the pool of applicants for the final interview stage.
- After evaluating the vast array of proposals, the board sought to winnow down the options to those that best aligned with their long-term strategic objectives.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.