Cut

/kʌt/ adj, intj, noun, verb, slang

adj, intj, noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: The act of cutting.
  • Grammar: cut is listed as adj, intj, noun, verb, slang.
  • Nearest alternatives: gash, slash, slice, circumcise.
  • Useful contrasts: uncut, admit, attach.
  • Usage evidence: I can't cut my nails and do the ironing at the same time!

How to use "cut"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cut" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "cut" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "cut" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "cut" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "cut" is acting as adj, intj, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "gash" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "cut", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The act of cutting. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "He made a fine cut with his sword."

  2. 2
    an unexcused absence from class wordnet
  3. 3
    The act of cutting.; An attack made with a chopping motion of the blade, landing with its edge or point. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  4. 4
    the act of reducing the amount or number wordnet
  5. 5
    The act of cutting.; A time period when one attempts to lose fat while retaining muscle mass. countable, figuratively, uncountable
Show 54 more definitions
  1. 6
    the act of shortening something by chopping off the ends wordnet
  2. 7
    The result of cutting. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "a smooth or clear cut"

  3. 8
    the act of cutting something into parts wordnet
  4. 9
    The result of cutting.; An opening of a living body resulting from cutting; an incision or wound. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  5. 10
    the act of penetrating or opening open with a sharp edge wordnet
  6. 11
    The result of cutting.; An opening of a living body resulting from cutting; an incision or wound.; Such a wound through human skin. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "Look at this cut on my finger!"

  7. 12
    the division of a deck of cards before dealing wordnet
  8. 13
    The result of cutting.; A notch, passage, or channel made by cutting or digging; a furrow; a groove. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  9. 14
    (sports) a stroke that puts reverse spin on the ball wordnet
  10. 15
    The result of cutting.; A notch, passage, or channel made by cutting or digging; a furrow; a groove.; Such a passage dug for a roadway for a paved road or railroad, a canal, a runway, etc. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "a cut through the hillside for a railroad"

  11. 16
    in baseball; a batter's attempt to hit a pitched ball wordnet
  12. 17
    The result of cutting.; An artificial channel for marine navigation, as distinguished from a navigable river. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  13. 18
    a refusal to recognize someone you know wordnet
  14. 19
    The result of cutting.; A share or portion of profits. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "The taxman always gets his cut, and that's fine as long as it's a haircut and not an amputation."

  15. 20
    a trench resembling a furrow that was made by erosion or excavation wordnet
  16. 21
    The result of cutting.; A decrease or deletion. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "The boss took a 5% pay cut."

  17. 22
    a canal made by erosion or excavation wordnet
  18. 23
    The result of cutting.; The manner or style in which a garment, other article of clothing, or sail is fashioned. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "I like the cut of that suit."

  19. 24
    the style in which a garment is cut wordnet
  20. 25
    The result of cutting.; A slab or slice, especially of meat. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "That’s our finest cut of meat."

  21. 26
    the omission that is made when an editorial change shortens a written passage wordnet
  22. 27
    The result of cutting.; A batsman's shot played with a swinging motion of the bat, to hit the ball backward of point. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  23. 28
    a distinct selection of music from a recording or a compact disc wordnet
  24. 29
    The result of cutting.; Sideways movement of the ball through the air caused by a fast bowler imparting spin to the ball. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  25. 30
    (film) an immediate transition from one shot to the next wordnet
  26. 31
    The result of cutting.; In lawn tennis, etc., a slanting stroke causing the ball to spin and bound irregularly; also, the spin thus given to the ball. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  27. 32
    a remark capable of wounding mentally wordnet
  28. 33
    The result of cutting.; In a stroke play competition, the early elimination of those players who have not then attained a preannounced score, so that the rest of the competition is less pressed for time and more entertaining for spectators. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  29. 34
    a piece of meat that has been cut from an animal carcass wordnet
  30. 35
    The result of cutting.; A passage omitted or to be omitted from a play, movie script, speech, etc. countable, especially, figuratively, uncountable

    "The director asked the cast to note down the following cuts."

  31. 36
    a share of the profits wordnet
  32. 37
    The result of cutting.; A particular version or edit of a film. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "the director's cut"

  33. 38
    a wound made by cutting wordnet
  34. 39
    The result of cutting.; The act or right of dividing a deck of playing cards. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "The player next to the dealer makes a cut by placing the bottom half on top."

  35. 40
    a step on some scale wordnet
  36. 41
    The result of cutting.; The card obtained by dividing the pack. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  37. 42
    The result of cutting.; A deliberate snub, typically a refusal to return a bow or other acknowledgement of acquaintance. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "Rip called him by name, but the cur snarled, showed his teeth, and passed on. This was an unkind cut indeed."

  38. 43
    The result of cutting.; An unkind act; a cruelty. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  39. 44
    The result of cutting.; An insult. countable, figuratively, slang, uncountable

    "1966-1969, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure We got out & there was a group of boppers, bout 25 of 'm in a group. They started yellin cuts, "queer" seemed to be the favorite they all began chanting it. "Hey, yer not gonna serve those queers, are ya Howie?""

  40. 45
    The result of cutting.; A definable part, such as an individual song, of a recording, particularly of commercial records, audio tapes, CDs, etc. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "The drummer on the last cut of their CD is not identified."

  41. 46
    The result of cutting.; A truncation, a context that represents a moment in time when other archaeological deposits were removed for the creation of some feature such as a ditch or pit. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  42. 47
    The result of cutting.; A haircut. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  43. 48
    The result of cutting.; The partition of a graph’s vertices into two subgroups. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  44. 49
    The result of cutting.; A dividing line in a Tumblr post, the content below which is hidden until the reader reveals it. Internet, countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "That's the TL;DR, anyway. You can find a more detailed version under the cut."

  45. 50
    The result of cutting.; A string of railway cars coupled together, shorter than a train. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "The shunter has a lightweight portable radio transmitter by which, as he uncouples an incoming train into cuts for marshalling, he informs the Traffic Office of the number of wagons in each cut and its siding; [...]."

  46. 51
    The result of cutting.; An engraved block or plate; the impression from such an engraving. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "a book illustrated with fine cuts"

  47. 52
    The result of cutting.; A common workhorse; a gelding. countable, figuratively, obsolete, uncountable

    "He's buy me a whit Cut, forth for to ride"

  48. 53
    The result of cutting.; The failure of a college officer or student to be present at any appointed exercise. countable, dated, figuratively, slang, uncountable
  49. 54
    The result of cutting.; A skein of yarn. countable, figuratively, uncountable

    "Two women for stealing 30 cuttes of linen yarn."

  50. 55
    The result of cutting.; That which is used to dilute or adulterate a recreational drug. figuratively, slang, uncountable

    "Don't buy his coke: it's full of cut."

  51. 56
    The result of cutting.; A notch shaved into an eyebrow. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  52. 57
    The result of cutting.; A hidden, secluded, or secure place. countable, figuratively, slang, uncountable

    "I'm laying in a cut 'bout to shoot me a mutt"

  53. 58
    The result of cutting.; The range of temperatures used to distill a particular mixture of hydrocarbons from crude oil. countable, figuratively, uncountable
  54. 59
    The result of cutting.; A sleeveless vest worn by members of a motorcycle club. countable, figuratively, uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To incise, to cut into the surface of something.; To perform an incision on, for example with a knife. transitive

    "You must cut this flesh from off his breast."

  2. 2
    cut off the testicles (of male animals such as horses) wordnet
  3. 3
    To incise, to cut into the surface of something.; To divide with a knife, scissors, or another sharp instrument. transitive

    "Would you please cut the cake?"

  4. 4
    grow through the gums wordnet
  5. 5
    To incise, to cut into the surface of something.; To form or shape by cutting. transitive

    "I have three diamonds to cut today."

Show 70 more definitions
  1. 6
    have grow through the gums wordnet
  2. 7
    To incise, to cut into the surface of something.; To wound with a knife. slang, transitive

    "We don't want your money no more. We just going to cut you."

  3. 8
    cut and assemble the components of wordnet
  4. 9
    To incise, to cut into the surface of something.; To engage in self-harm by making cuts in one's own skin. intransitive, transitive

    "The patient said she had been cutting since the age of thirteen."

  5. 10
    lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture wordnet
  6. 11
    To incise, to cut into the surface of something.; To deliver a stroke with a whip or like instrument to. ambitransitive, transitive

    "“My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. ¶ Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. ¶ “Quite so,” he said as dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were known your life would not be worth a curse.”"

  7. 12
    reduce in scope while retaining essential elements wordnet
  8. 13
    To incise, to cut into the surface of something.; To wound or hurt deeply the sensibilities of; to pierce. transitive

    "Sarcasm cuts to the quick."

  9. 14
    cease, stop wordnet
  10. 15
    To incise, to cut into the surface of something.; To castrate or geld. transitive

    "to cut a horse"

  11. 16
    cut down on; make a reduction in wordnet
  12. 17
    To incise, to cut into the surface of something.; To interfere, as a horse; to strike one foot against the opposite foot or ankle in using the legs. transitive
  13. 18
    have a reducing effect wordnet
  14. 19
    To admit of incision or severance; to yield to a cutting instrument. intransitive

    "The panels of white-wood that cuts like cheese, / But lasts like iron for things like these;"

  15. 20
    dissolve by breaking down the fat of wordnet
  16. 21
    To separate, remove, reject or reduce.; To separate or omit, in a situation where one was previously associated. transitive

    "Travis was cut from the team."

  17. 22
    weed out unwanted or unnecessary things wordnet
  18. 23
    To separate, remove, reject or reduce.; To abridge or shorten a work; to remove a portion of a recording during editing. transitive
  19. 24
    shorten as if by severing the edges or ends of wordnet
  20. 25
    To separate, remove, reject or reduce.; To reduce, especially intentionally. transitive

    "They're going to cut salaries by fifteen percent."

  21. 26
    refuse to acknowledge wordnet
  22. 27
    To separate, remove, reject or reduce.; To absent oneself from (a class, an appointment, etc.). transitive

    "I cut fifth period to hang out with Angela."

  23. 28
    make out and issue wordnet
  24. 29
    To separate, remove, reject or reduce.; To leave abruptly. intransitive, slang, transitive

    "I gotta cut but I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

  25. 30
    penetrate injuriously wordnet
  26. 31
    To ignore as a social rebuff or snub. transitive

    "After the incident at the dinner party, people started to cut him on the street."

  27. 32
    fell by sawing; hew wordnet
  28. 33
    To make an abrupt transition from one scene or image to another. intransitive

    "The camera then cut to the woman on the front row who was clearly overcome and crying tears of joy."

  29. 34
    reap or harvest wordnet
  30. 35
    To edit a film by selecting takes from original footage. transitive
  31. 36
    hit (a ball) with a spin so that it turns in the opposite direction wordnet
  32. 37
    To remove (text, a picture, etc.) and place in memory in order to paste at a later time. transitive

    "Select the text, cut it, and then paste it in the other application."

  33. 38
    cause to stop operating by disengaging a switch wordnet
  34. 39
    To enter a queue in the wrong place. intransitive

    "One student kept trying to cut in front of the line."

  35. 40
    separate with or as if with an instrument wordnet
  36. 41
    To intersect or cross in such a way as to divide in half or nearly so. intransitive

    "This road cuts right through downtown."

  37. 42
    divide a deck of cards at random into two parts to make selection difficult wordnet
  38. 43
    To make the ball spin sideways by running one's fingers down the side of the ball while bowling it. transitive
  39. 44
    make an incision or separation wordnet
  40. 45
    To deflect (a bowled ball) to the off, with a chopping movement of the bat. transitive
  41. 46
    allow incision or separation wordnet
  42. 47
    To change direction suddenly. intransitive

    "The football player cut to his left to evade a tackle."

  43. 48
    function as a cutting instrument wordnet
  44. 49
    To divide a pack of playing cards into two parts, often followed by placing the two parts back together in the opposite order. intransitive, transitive

    "If you cut then I'll deal."

  45. 50
    style and tailor in a certain fashion wordnet
  46. 51
    To make, negotiate; to finalise, conclude; to issue. slang, transitive

    "I'll cut a check for you."

  47. 52
    perform or carry out wordnet
  48. 53
    To dilute or adulterate something, especially a recreational drug. slang, transitive

    "The best malt whiskies are improved if they are cut with a dash of water."

  49. 54
    form or shape by cutting or incising wordnet
  50. 55
    To exhibit (a figure having some trait). transitive

    "The Bender family cut a very distinct profile."

  51. 56
    form by probing, penetrating, or digging wordnet
  52. 57
    To stop, disengage, or cease. transitive

    "The schoolchildren were told to cut the noise."

  53. 58
    create by duplicating data wordnet
  54. 59
    To renounce or give up. transitive
  55. 60
    record a performance on (a medium) wordnet
  56. 61
    To drive (a ball) to one side, as by (in billiards or croquet) hitting it fine with another ball, or (in tennis) striking it with the racket inclined.
  57. 62
    make a recording of wordnet
  58. 63
    To lose body mass, aiming to keep muscle but lose body fat.
  59. 64
    stop filming wordnet
  60. 65
    To perform (an elaborate dancing movement etc.).

    "to cut a caper"

  61. 66
    make an abrupt change of image or sound wordnet
  62. 67
    To run or hurry. intransitive, slang

    "Now one of us had better cut down to Courtfield on a bike […]"

  63. 68
    pass through or across wordnet
  64. 69
    pass directly and often in haste wordnet
  65. 70
    turn sharply; change direction abruptly wordnet
  66. 71
    move (one's fist) wordnet
  67. 72
    give the appearance or impression of wordnet
  68. 73
    discharge from a group wordnet
  69. 74
    be able to manage or manage successfully wordnet
  70. 75
    intentionally fail to attend wordnet
Adjective
  1. 1
    Having been cut. adjective, error-misspelling, participle

    "The real purpose of building this railway on the part of the Japanese imperialists at that time was to spy on the Mongolian People's Republic and to transport the timber produced in the A-erh-t'ai forest zone.[…]The principal cargo consists of cut timber from the A-erh-t'ai-shan, and the cereal products of Wu-lan-hao-t'e."

  2. 2
    Reduced.

    "The pitcher threw a cut fastball that was slower than his usual pitch."

  3. 3
    Carved into a shape; not raw.
  4. 4
    Played with a horizontal bat to hit the ball backward of point.
  5. 5
    Having muscular definition in which individual groups of muscle fibers stand out among larger muscles.

    "Or how 'bout Shane DiMora? Could he possibly get rip-roaring cut this time around?"

Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    Circumcised or having been the subject of female genital mutilation. informal
  2. 7
    Upset, angry; emotionally hurt. Australia, New-Zealand, slang

    "‘Here y'are,’ says the happy butcher, dragging out a bucket. ‘Good riddance. But me dogs'll be cut tonight, I tell ya. That's their grub.’"

  3. 8
    Intoxicated as a result of drugs or alcohol. New-Zealand, slang

    "I was dev’lish cut—uncommon—been dining with some chaps at Greenwich."

Adjective
  1. 1
    with parts removed wordnet
  2. 2
    separated into parts or laid open or penetrated with a sharp edge or instrument wordnet
  3. 3
    (of pages of a book) having the folds of the leaves trimmed or slit wordnet
  4. 4
    fashioned or shaped by cutting wordnet
  5. 5
    mixed with water wordnet
Show 4 more definitions
  1. 6
    (used of rates or prices) reduced usually sharply wordnet
  2. 7
    (used of grass or vegetation) cut down with a hand implement or machine wordnet
  3. 8
    (of a male animal) having the testicles removed wordnet
  4. 9
    made neat and tidy by trimming wordnet
Intj
  1. 1
    An instruction to cease recording.

    "Near-synonym: scene!"

Synonyms

All synonyms
gashslashslicecircumciseabandonabate

Example

"I can't cut my nails and do the ironing at the same time!"

Common questions

What does "cut" mean?

The act of cutting.

What is a synonym for "cut"?

Common synonyms include: gash, slash, slice, circumcise, abandon, abate.

How do you use "cut" in a sentence?

I can't cut my nails and do the ironing at the same time!

How do you pronounce "cut"?

Pronounced /kʌt/.

Etymology

From Middle English cutten, kitten, kytten, ketten (“to cut”) (compare Scots kut, kit (“to cut”)), of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse *kytja, *kutta, from Proto-Germanic *kutjaną, *kuttaną (“to cut”), of uncertain origin, perhaps related to Proto-Germanic *kwetwą (“meat, flesh”) (compare Old Norse kvett (“meat”)). Akin to Middle Swedish kotta (“to cut or carve with a knife”) (compare dialectal Swedish kåta, kuta (“to cut or chip with a knife”), Swedish kuta, kytti (“a knife”)), Norwegian Bokmål kutte (“to cut”), Norwegian Nynorsk kutte (“to cut”), Icelandic kuta (“to cut with a knife”), Old Norse kuti (“small knife”), Norwegian kyttel, kytel, kjutul (“pointed slip of wood used to strip bark”). Displaced native Middle English snithen (from Old English snīþan; compare German schneiden), which still survives in some dialects as snithe or snead. See snide. Adjective sense of "drunk" (now rare and now usually used in the originally jocular derivative form of half-cut) dates from the 17th century, from cut in the leg, to have cut your leg, euphemism for being very drunk.

More for "cut"

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