# cut back

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cut-back
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to reduce spending or resources

phrasal verb · CEFR B1

to spend less money or use fewer resources than before.

For teachers: to reduce expenditure or the allocation of resources, often as a budgetary measure.

- The company had to cut back on travel expenses to save money this year.
- Faced with a significant deficit, the local council was forced to cut back on essential services, sparking widespread public debate.

Usage: Often used intransitively with 'on' followed by the noun phrase being reduced.

### 2. to reduce consumption

phrasal verb · CEFR B1

to do, eat, or drink less of something, usually for your health.

For teachers: to decrease the frequency or quantity of a habit or consumable item, typically for health or lifestyle reasons.

- My doctor told me I need to cut back on sugar and salt.
- After realizing how much time he was wasting, he decided to cut back on social media use during work hours.

Usage: Commonly takes the preposition 'on' before the object of reduction.

### 3. to prune plants

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to cut the branches of a plant to make it shorter or help it grow.

For teachers: to prune or shorten the branches or stems of a plant to control its size or encourage new growth.

- You should cut back the rose bushes in late winter before they start growing.
- The gardener spent the afternoon cutting back the overgrown hedges to restore the view of the valley.

Usage: Usually functions as a transitive phrasal verb where the plant is the direct object.

## Examples

- We need to cut back on our spending.
- The doctor told him to cut back on sugar to improve his health.
- The company decided to cut back on its marketing budget after the quarterly reports showed a significant decline in revenue.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: contrast with 'cut down on' (very similar, often interchangeable) and 'cut out' (to stop completely); 'cut back' often implies a strategic or necessary reduction.

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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.