ENGLISH
REFERENCE

curtailed

adj.
C1 Advanced US //kɝˈteɪɫd// UK //kɜːtˈeɪld// cur·tailed

adj. reduced in length or limited in some way. You use this to describe something that was cut short before it was supposed to finish.

adj. reduced in extent or quantity; imposed with a restriction that limits duration or scope. Often used as a participial adjective to describe rights, activities, or timeframes.


SIMPLE

The outdoor concert was curtailed because of the heavy rain.

CONTEXTUAL

The government announced that several public services would be curtailed due to the sudden budget deficit.

COMPLEX

While the initial proposal was ambitious, the final project was significantly curtailed by environmental regulations and a lack of community support.

Synonyms
Usage

Often follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'become', or precedes a noun as a modifier.

© 2026 English Reference