Phrasal verb
cut down
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
cut down
Past
cut down
Past participle
cut down
Definition
phrasal verb. to use or eat less of something, or to make a tree fall by cutting its trunk.
phrasal verb. to reduce the quantity or frequency of something; alternatively, to fell a tree. It functions transitively when referring to trees and often takes the preposition 'on' when referring to consumption.
Examples
“He cuts down on soda to save money.”
“The council decided to cut down the diseased elms to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of the park.”
“The editorial team had to cut down the manuscript significantly to meet the publisher's strict word count requirements for the autumn anthology.”
Examples
simple
“He cuts down on soda to save money.”
contextual
“The council decided to cut down the diseased elms to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of the park.”
complex
“The editorial team had to cut down the manuscript significantly to meet the publisher's strict word count requirements for the autumn anthology.”
Usage
use 'on' after the phrase if you want to mention the specific thing you are reducing.
Teaching tip
contrast the literal sense of felling a tree with the figurative sense of reducing consumption, noting that the latter usually requires 'on'.
Pitfall
I need to cut down of sugar.
I need to cut down on sugar.
the preposition 'on' is required to connect the verb to the substance being reduced.
Phrasal verb
Particles
down
Separability
optional
Pattern
cut (+ object) + down
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- 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 · Intermediate
- Updated
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