Merriam-Webster Logo
  • Dictionary
  • Thesaurus
  • Scrabble
  • Spanish Central
  • Learner's Dictionary


verb \ˈkət\

Simple Definition of cut


  • : to make a hole or wound in (a person's skin)

  • : to make (a hole) in something by using a sharp tool

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

Full Definition of cut



  1. transitive verb
  2. 1 a :  to penetrate with or as if with an edged instrument b :  to hurt the feelings of c :  to strike sharply with a cutting effect d :  to strike (a ball) with a glancing blow that imparts a reverse spin e :  to experience the growth of (a tooth) through the gum

  3. 2 a :  trim, pare <cut one's nails> b :  to shorten by omissions <cut the manuscript> c :  dilute, adulterate <cut the whiskey with water> d :  to reduce in amount <cut costs>e :  to remove (something, such as text or a picture) from a computer document and place it on the clipboard so that it can be pasted into another position, document, or program

  4. 3 a :  mow, reap <cut hay> b (1) :  to divide into parts with an edged tool <cut bread> (2) :  fell, hew c (1) :  to separate or discharge from an organization <cut them from the team> (2) :  to single out and isolate <cut a calf out from the herd> d :  to turn (as a steering wheel) sharply <the driver cut the wheel hard> e :  to go or pass around or about :  bypass <cut the checkout line>

  5. 4 a :  to divide into segments <cut the cake> b :  intersect, cross <one line cutting another> c :  break, interrupt <cut our supply lines> d (1) :  to divide (a deck of cards) into two portions (2) :  to draw (a card) from the deck e :  to divide into shares :  split f :  analyze, break down <any way you cut it, we won>

  6. 5 a :  to make by or as if by cutting: as (1) :  carve <cut stone> (2) :  to shape by grinding <cut a diamond> (3) :  engrave (4) :  to shear or hollow out <cut a groove> b (1) :  to sing, play, or act for the recording of <cut an album> <cut a commercial> (2) :  to sing or play (as a song or a track) for a studio recording c :  to type on a stencil d :  edit 1b <cut a motion picture>

  7. 6 a :  stop, cease <cut the nonsense> b :  to refuse to recognize (an acquaintance) <they cut her dead at the party> c :  to absent oneself from (as a class) d :  to stop (a motor) by opening a switch e :  to stop the filming of (a motion-picture scene)

  8. 7 a :  to engage in (a frolicsome or mischievous action) <on summer nights strange capers are cut under the thin guise of a Christian festival — D. C. Peattie> b :  to give the appearance or impression of <cut a fine figure>

  9. 8 :  to be able to manage or handle —usually used in negative constructions <can't cut that kind of work anymore>

  10. 9 a :  to yield or accord to another :  give <cut me some slack> b :  to fill out and sign (a check)

  11. intransitive verb
  12. 1 a :  to function as or as if as an edged tool b :  to undergo incision or severance <cheese cuts easily> c :  to perform the operation of dividing, severing, incising, or intersecting d :  to make a stroke with a whip, sword, or other weapon e :  to wound feelings or sensibilities f :  to cause constriction or chafing g :  to be of effect, influence, or significance <an analysis that cuts deep>

  13. 2 a (1) :  to divide a pack of cards especially in order to decide the deal or settle a bet (2) :  to draw a card from the pack b :  to divide spoils :  split

  14. 3 a :  to proceed obliquely from a straight course <cut across the yard> b :  to move swiftly <a yacht cutting through the water> c :  to describe an oblique or diagonal line d :  to change sharply in direction :  swerve e :  to make an abrupt transition from one sound or image to another in motion pictures, radio, or television f :  to make a sudden transition or imaginative leap <the story cuts to 1917>

  15. 4 :  to stop photographing motion pictures

  16. 5 :  to advance by skipping or bypassing another <cut to the front of the line>

cut a deal

  1. :  to negotiate an agreement

cut both ways

  1. :  to have both favorable and unfavorable results or implications

cut corners

  1. :  to perform some action in the quickest, easiest, or cheapest way

cut ice

  1. :  to be of importance —usually used in negative constructions <his opinion cuts no ice with me>

cut it

  1. :  to cut the mustard

cut loose

  1. 1 :  to free from control or restraint <cut us loose from the contract>

  2. 2 :  to act without restraint <enjoyed cutting loose at nightclubs>

cut one's teeth

  1. :  to learn, do, or perform as a beginning or at the start of one's career <an actress who cut her teeth on television>

cut the mustard

  1. :  to achieve the standard of performance necessary for success

cut to the chase

  1. :  to get to the point

Examples of cut in a sentence

  1. cutting a piece of string

  2. He uses the ax to cut wood.

  3. The meat is so tender you can cut it with a fork.

  4. Cut along the dotted line.

  5. The saw easily cuts through metal.

  6. She cut into the melon with a knife.

  7. I cut myself while shaving.

  8. I had a cut finger.

  9. We were fighting, and he tried to cut me with his knife.

  10. Pieces of broken glass cut her face and arms.

Origin and Etymology of cut

Middle English cutten

First Known Use: 13th century




Simple Definition of cut

  • : an opening or hole made with a sharp tool (such as a knife)

  • : a wound on a person's body that is made by something sharp

  • : an act of making something smaller in amount

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

Full Definition of cut

  1. 1 :  a product of cutting: as a (1) :  an opening made with an edged instrument (2) :  a wound made by something sharp :  gash b :  a creek, channel, or inlet made by excavation or worn by natural action c :  a surface or outline left by cutting d :  a passage cut as a roadway e :  a grade or step especially in a social scale <a cut above the ordinary> f :  a subset of a set such that when it is subtracted from the set the remainder is not connected g :  a pictorial illustration h :  track 1e(2)

  2. 2 :  the act or an instance of cutting: as a :  a gesture or expression that hurts the feelings <made an unkind cut> b :  a straight passage or course c :  a stroke or blow with the edge of a knife or other edged tool d :  a lash with or as if with a whip e :  the act of reducing or removing a part <a cut in pay> f :  an act or turn of cutting cards; also :  the result of cutting g :  the elimination of part of a large field from further participation, consideration, or competition (as in a golf tournament) —often used with miss or make to denote respectively being or not being among those eliminated <played well and made the cut>

  3. 3 :  something that is cut or cut off: as a :  a length of cloth varying from 40 to 100 yards (36.6 to 91.4 meters) b :  the yield of products cut especially during one harvest c :  a segment or section of a meat carcass or a part of one d :  a group of animals selected from a herd e :  share <took his cut of the profits>

  4. 4 :  a voluntary absence from a class

  5. 5 a :  a stroke that cuts a ball; also :  the spin imparted by such a stroke b :  a swing by a batter at a pitched baseball c :  an exchange of captures in checkers

  6. 6 :  a result of editing: as a :  an abrupt transition from one sound or image to another in motion pictures, radio, or television b :  an edited version of a film

  7. 7 a :  the shape and style in which a thing is cut, formed, or made <clothes of the latest cut> b :  pattern, type c :  haircut

cut of one's jib

Examples of cut in a sentence

  1. Make a few small cuts in the crust to let the air escape.

  2. a two-inch cut in the cloth

  3. He came home covered in cuts and bruises.

  4. Further cuts in spending are needed.

  5. You'll have to make a few cuts in your manuscript if you want us to publish it.


First Known Use of cut





Definition of cut

  1. :  marked by a well-developed and highly defined musculature <cut abs>

CUT Defined for Kids



verb \ˈkət\

Definition of cut for Students



  1. 1 :  to penetrate or divide with or as if with an edged tool :  cleave <cut a finger>

  2. 2 :  to undergo shaping or penetrating with an edged tool <Cheese cuts easily.>

  3. 3 :  to divide into two or more parts <cut a deck of cards> <Would you cut the cake?>

  4. 4 :  to shorten or remove with scissors, a knife, or clippers

  5. 5 :  to go by a short or direct path or course <We cut across the lawn.>

  6. 6 :  to destroy the connection of <Soldiers cut electricity to the enemy.>

  7. 7 :  to intentionally not attend <He developed a habit of cutting class.>

  8. 8 :  to move quickly or suddenly <The driver cut across two lanes of traffic.>

  9. 9 :  to make less <cut costs>

  10. 10 :  to experience the growth of through the gum <The baby is cutting teeth.>

  11. 11 :  to stop or cause to stop <Cut the motor.> <Cut that whispering.>

  12. 12 :  to cause painful feelings <That remark really cut.>

  13. 13 :  to shape by carving or grinding <cut a gem>

cut back

  1. 1 :  to use less or do less of <I cut back on watching TV.>

  2. 2 :  to reduce the size or amount of <You'll have to cut back on your vacation plans.>

cut down

  1. 1 :  to knock down and wound or kill

  2. 2 :  to reduce the size or amount of <The new route cuts down on travel time.>

  3. 3 to use less or do less of <I'm cutting down on sweets.>

cut in

cut into

  1. :  to reduce the amount of <The increase in supply costs cut into their profit.>

cut off

  1. 1 :  isolate <The flood cut us off from the rest of the city.>

  2. 2 :  discontinue <His father threatened to cut off his allowance.>

  3. 3 :  to stop or interrupt while speaking <She always cuts me off while I'm talking.>

cut out

  1. 1 :  to form by removing with scissors, a knife, or a saw

  2. 2 :  to assign through necessity <You've got your work cut out for you.>

  3. 3 :  to put an end to <Cut out that nonsense!>




Definition of cut for Students

  1. 1 :  something (as a gash or wound) produced by a sharp object

  2. 2 :  reduction 1 <He took a cut in pay.>

  3. 3 :  something resulting from shortening, division, or removal <a cut of beef>

  4. 4 :  1share 1 <They took their cut of the winnings.>

  5. 5 :  a sharp stroke or blow

  6. 6 :  the way in which a thing is styled, formed, or made <the cut of the pants>

  7. 7 :  something done or said that hurts someone's feelings

Medical Dictionary



verb \ˈkət\

Medical Definition of cut




  1. 1

  2. transitive verb

  3. a:  to penetrate with or as if with an edged instrumentb:  to cut or operate on in surgery: as (1):  to subject (a domestic animal) to castration (2):  to perform lithotomy onc:  to experience the emergence of (a tooth) through the gum

  4. 2:  to subject to trimming or paring <cut one's nails>

  5. 1

  6. intransitive verb

  7. :  to function as or in the manner of an edged tool <a knife that cuts well>

  8. 2:  to cut in surgery :  operate




Medical Definition of cut

  1. 1:  a product of cutting: asa:  an opening made with an edged instrumentb:  a wound made by something sharp

  2. 2:  a stroke or blow with the edge of a sharp implement (as a knife)

Learn More about cut

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up cut? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).


of striking ability or excellence

Get Word of the Day daily email!


Take a 3-minute break and test your skills!



estival hiemal vernal brumal
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

