English Reference

Word

cut

Phoneticscut

US/ˈkət/

UK/kˈʌt/

Irregular verb

Forms

Infinitive

cut

Past

cut

Past participle

cut

Definitions

01to divide with a blade

A1 · Beginner

v. to use a knife, scissors, or another sharp tool to open, divide, or remove something.

v. to penetrate or divide a surface or object using a sharp-edged instrument. Transitive in most physical contexts.

“She used a sharp knife to cut the bread into thick slices.”

“The surgeon carefully cut through the outer layer of tissue to reach the damaged ligament.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

02to reduce

A2 · Elementary

v. to make something smaller in size, amount, or number.

v. to decrease the quantity, size, or intensity of something. Often used in economic or administrative contexts.

“The company had to cut prices to attract more customers.”

“The government announced plans to cut public spending by ten percent over the next fiscal year.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

03to remove or edit

B1 · Intermediate Computing

v. to take out a part of a story, film, or piece of writing.

v. to remove specific segments from a creative work during the editing process; in computing, to remove data and store it on the clipboard.

“The director decided to cut the final scene because the movie was too long.”

“You can cut the selected text and paste it into a new document to reorganise your notes.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

04to ignore someone

C1 · Advanced Formal

v. to pretend you do not see or know someone you meet.

v. to intentionally ignore or snub a person in a social setting. Often implies a deliberate act of social rejection.

“She felt hurt when her former friend cut her at the party.”

“In Victorian society, to cut an acquaintance in public was considered a severe social reprimand.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

05to dilute

C1 · Advanced Slang

v. to mix a substance with something else to make it weaker or cheaper.

v. to adulterate or dilute a substance, typically a drug or liquid, to increase its volume or decrease its potency.

“The juice was cut with water to make it last longer for the kids.”

“Forensic analysis revealed that the illegal substances had been cut with various household powders to increase profit margins.”

Synonyms

diluteadulteratethin

Antonyms

06a wound

A2 · Elementary Countable noun Medicine

n. an opening in the skin made by something sharp.

n. an injury involving a narrow opening in the skin or flesh.

“He got a small cut on his finger while peeling the potatoes.”

“The nurse cleaned the deep cut on his arm before applying several stitches to close the wound.”

07a share

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a part of something, like a share of money or profits.

n. a share or percentage of a total amount, typically referring to profits or earnings.

“The agent takes a ten percent cut of everything the actor earns.”

“After the successful heist, each member of the crew demanded their fair cut of the proceeds.”

08a reduction

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a decrease in the amount or level of something.

n. an act of reducing the amount, number, or size of something. Often used in the plural for financial contexts.

“The workers were angry about the proposed cut in their pay.”

“Significant budget cuts have forced the university to cancel several elective courses this semester.”

Antonyms

09style or shape

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. the way something is shaped or styled, like hair or clothes.

n. the style or fashion in which a garment or hair is shaped or tailored.

“I really like the cut of that jacket; it fits you perfectly.”

“The tailor explained that the specific cut of the suit was designed to broaden the appearance of the shoulders.”

10muscular

C1 · Advanced Sports Informal

adj. having muscles that are very easy to see because there is little body fat.

adj. possessing highly defined musculature with minimal subcutaneous fat. Common in bodybuilding contexts.

“He spent months in the gym to get cut for the summer.”

“The athlete appeared incredibly cut on stage, with every muscle group clearly visible under the bright lights.”

Antonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “cut” in context.

Verb

01. get a cut

“If we sell the car for a good price, you will get a cut for helping me.”

verb + noun

02. give him his cut

“After the deal was finished, the manager gave him his cut of the money.”

verb + possessive + noun

03. take a cut

“The agent takes a ten percent cut of everything the actor earns.”

verb + noun

04. want a cut of the profits

“The investors want a large cut of the profits from the new restaurant.”

verb + noun + prep + noun

Adjective

05. big cut

“The website takes a big cut of the sales made by independent artists.”

adj + noun

06. fair cut

“Everyone worked hard on the project, so they all deserved a fair cut.”

adj + noun

Noun

07. cut of the money

“He was promised a small cut of the money if he found a buyer for the house.”

noun + of + noun

Usage

Often takes a possessive pronoun ('my cut', 'their cut') and is followed by 'of' to specify the source ('a cut of the profits').

Word family

Related words

Idioms

Domains

ArchaeologyComputingFilmInternetSportsTelevisionTheater

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Very common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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