cutback

1 of 2

noun

cut·​back ˈkət-ˌbak How to pronounce cutback (audio)
1
: something cut back
2
: reduction
a cutback in funding

cut back

2 of 2

verb

cut back; cutting back; cuts back

transitive verb

: to shorten by cutting : prune

intransitive verb

1
: to interrupt the sequence of a plot (as of a movie) by introducing events prior to those last presented
2
: cut down
cut back on sugar

Examples of cutback in a Sentence

Verb we need to cut back the bushes a bit so that the house number is visible from the street cut back the meeting so everyone could leave early for the long weekend
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The lending institution has constantly urged the government to depreciate the currency and embark on monetary and fiscal tightening policies, including a cutback in government subsidies. Noha Elhennawy, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024 But during the past two years, Joann's sales have tumbled, with the company blaming consumer cutbacks due to inflation and other economic challenges. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2024 That does not include recent emergency cutbacks to get the region through the next three years, with irrigators accepting federal funds to leave more water in Mead. Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 The pace of Bay Area tech layoffs so far in 2024 remains below the cutbacks in the industry over the same time frame in 2023 — even as a widening number of technology companies continue to chop employees. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 In Brooklyn Heights, a couple that wanted to have a second child is reconsidering, anxious over crushing child care expenses and cutbacks to prekindergarten programs. Troy Closson, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Those savings along with layoffs and additional cutbacks led Meta’s profits to soar about 69 percent in 2023. Paresh Dave, WIRED, 2 Feb. 2024 Frank and Walker-Webb pointed out that the cutbacks afflicting Maryland’s largest regional theater in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic are hardly unique to Baltimore. Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2024 These cutbacks lead to the city being less attractive to businesses and workers, which leads to more vacancies. Brad Mielke, ABC News, 7 Dec. 2023
Verb
So Nike is cutting back supply to try to juice demand and sell them at full prices. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024 However, funding on things like diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs was significantly cut back. Melissa Noel, Essence, 25 Mar. 2024 Despite their appearance, they should not be cut back until the foliage turns completely brown. Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024 The film cuts back and forth from Winton's life in the 1980s, in which Hopkins, 86, portrays Winton, and 1939, in which Johnny Flynn portrays the man at a younger age. Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024 That was meant to counter a spell of deflationary trends where people held back on purchases in hopes of lower prices, which led companies to invest less and to cut back on wages. Yuri Kageyama, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 Target has stumbled dramatically, but that’s likely due to people cutting back on discretionary products, of which Target provides plenty, not boycotts, Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, told Fortune. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024 In the Cold War’s later years, the United States cut back its (often unsuccessful) efforts to shore up regimes that were, in many cases, repressive dictatorships. Sheena Chestnut Greitens, Foreign Affairs, 15 Mar. 2024 Until drought in recent years forced the Lower Basin to cut back and prop up water levels in Lake Mead, the three-state region fully used its 7.5 million acre-foot allocation. Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cutback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1871, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of cutback was in 1871

Dictionary Entries Near cutback

Cite this Entry

“Cutback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutback. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cutback

1 of 2 noun
cut·​back ˈkət-ˌbak How to pronounce cutback (audio)
: an act or instance of cutting something back

cut back

2 of 2 verb
ˈkət-ˈbak
1
2
: to reduce something in amount
cut back on smoking
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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