cut out - Definition & Meaning

to cut out

Third Person

cuts out

Present Participle

cutting out

Past Tense

cut out

Past Participle

cut out

to use a sharp object like scissors or a knife on something to remove a section from it

transitive

Can you cut the coupons out of the magazine so we can use them at the store?
She carefully cut out the intricate design from the paper to create a delicate silhouette.
I need to cut out a heart shape from this construction paper for the craft project.
It's challenging to cut out a perfect circle from this tough material; we may need a specialized tool.

to shape or construct something by removing material, typically from a larger piece

transitive

As part of the DIY project, they had to cut out precise measurements from the plywood sheet.
The sculptor skillfully cut out sections of marble to reveal the detailed features of the statue.
In pottery class, the artist used a carving tool to cut out intricate patterns on the clay vase.
The architect used a laser-guided machine to cut out sections of the architectural model for a precise representation.

to suddenly end a process, activity, or behavior

transitive

The noise complaints from neighbors prompted the city to cut out late-night construction activities.
She realized the negative impact of social media on her well-being and chose to cut it out of her life.
The teacher had to cut out off-topic conversations in the classroom to maintain focus on the lesson.
As soon as the fire alarm went off, the school staff had to cut out the scheduled exam and evacuate the students.

Synonyms:

cut off

(of a machine, device, or system) to suddenly stop working

As soon as the overheating protection kicked in, the toaster cut out to prevent any damage.
The computer unexpectedly cut out in the middle of an important presentation, causing panic in the conference room.
The chainsaw suddenly cut out, and the lumberjack had to inspect it to figure out the issue.
During the storm, the electricity cut out, plunging the entire neighborhood into darkness.

to block a pass intended for a specific player

transitive

During the match, the defender skillfully cut out a through ball intended for the striker, thwarting the opposing team's scoring opportunity.
In the crucial moments of the match, the defender skillfully cut out the opponent's pass, denying their star striker a clear shot on goal.
With a perfectly timed slide tackle, the fullback cut out the winger's pass, showcasing his defensive prowess and turning the play in favor of his team.
The defender's ability to read the game enabled him to consistently cut out passes, disrupting the opposing team's rhythm and maintaining control for his side.

Synonyms:

cut down

to remove something, typically from a written or printed document, by physically marking or erasing it

transitive

When revising his manuscript, the author had to cut out a subplot that didn't contribute significantly to the overall narrative.
After realizing the error in the report, she decided to cut out the inaccurate data before submitting it to the supervisor.
The editor had to cut out several paragraphs from the article to meet the word limit imposed by the magazine.
The committee decided to cut out a controversial section of the proposal to avoid any potential conflicts during the presentation.

Synonyms:

scratch out

to deliberately eliminate a particular food or beverage from one's diet

transitive

The doctor advised him to cut smoking out to improve his overall health.
In an effort to lose weight, Sarah decided to cut out sugary snacks and sodas from her diet.
Due to gluten intolerance, Mark had to cut out all gluten-containing foods from his meals.
To improve her sleep quality, Emily made the decision to cut out coffee and caffeinated beverages in the evening

to isolate an individual animal from the larger group or herd

transitive

The wildlife biologist needed to cut out a particular elk from the group to attach a tracking collar for research purposes.
In order to sell the high-quality breeding bull, the farmer had to cut it out from the rest of the cattle.
The skilled shepherd used his dog to help cut out specific sheep from the flock for shearing.
During the annual roundup, the cowboys had to cut out several steers for branding and vaccination.

to intermittently lose an audio connection, typically occurring during a phone call

I was talking to my friend on the phone, and the call kept cutting out, making it difficult to follow the conversation.
During the business meeting, the executive's voice would cut out every now and then, causing some confusion among the participants.
The call quality was poor, with the audio cutting out at random intervals, making it frustrating to communicate effectively.
The webinar was informative, but the speaker's microphone kept cutting out, making it challenging for attendees to grasp the entire presentation.

to abruptly exit a situation or place

When the movie turned out to be disappointing, Lisa and Jake decided to cut out and grab dinner instead.
Not wanting to deal with the awkward situation, John chose to cut out of the family gathering early.
As soon as the boss announced the additional workload, Sarah discreetly cut out of the office to avoid being assigned more tasks.
Tom couldn't handle the boring meeting any longer, so he quietly cut out before it concluded.

to suddenly move or change lanes, often by moving in front of another vehicle

A car cut out in front of us without signaling.
The driver suddenly cut out to avoid the merging traffic.
The truck cut out from the slow lane and sped past us.
The car cut out from behind and overtook us on the highway.
He quickly cut out of the traffic jam to take an exit.

to stop someone from being included or involved in something

transitive

Don’t cut your friends out of your plans.
The new policy could cut out many students from participating.
He was cut out of the project after the argument.
They cut her out of the discussion after the disagreement.
They cut me out of the meeting without any explanation.

to intentionally exclude someone from receiving anything from a will after death

He decided to cut his cousin out of his will after their argument.
The family was shocked when the inheritance cut out several relatives.
She was cut out of the will because of her behavior.
He threatened to cut her out of the will if she didn’t change her ways.
His children were cut out of the will after they had not spoken to him for years.