cut
gb/kˈʌt/ us/kˈʌt/
A1
English
~ 1800
vág, megvág, csökkent, megszüntet, kikapcsol, letilt, félbeszakít, lerövidít
VERB
A1
1
vág
A2
Usage pattern:
to cut [something] with [tool]
She cut the paper with scissors.
Ollóval vágta el a papírt.
He cut the rope to free the boat.
Elvágta a kötelet, hogy kiszabadítsa a csónakot.
I cut the vegetables for the salad.
The tailor cut the fabric carefully.
Please cut the cake into equal slices.
Learner examples
I cut the apple in half.
Kettévágtam az almát.
She cuts the bread with a knife.
Késsel vágja fel a kenyeret.
He cuts the paper into small pieces.
They cut the cake for the party.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'cut' with 'slice' or 'chop' without recognizing that 'cut' is the more general term.
Meaning
Use a sharp tool to divide
Collocations
cut into pieces
|cut with scissors
|cut the cake
|cut the rope
Synonyms
slice (Often used for cutting thin, flat pieces, especially of food.)
Antonyms
join (Means to connect or bring together, the opposite of separating.)
Themes
daily life
|food
|crafts
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To break something into pieces using a knife or other sharp thing.
To divide or separate something into parts using a sharp-edged instrument.
VERB
A2
2
megvág
B1
Usage pattern:
to cut [part of body / material]
I accidentally cut my finger while cooking.
Főzés közben véletlenül megvágtam az ujjamat.
Be careful not to cut yourself on the glass.
Vigyázz, nehogy megvágd magad az üveggel.
He cut his knee when he fell on the rock.
Learner examples
I cut my hand with a knife.
Megvágtam a kezemet egy késsel.
She cut her finger on the paper.
A papír megvágta az ujját.
He cut his leg when he fell.
Common mistake:
Sometimes confused with 'scratch', which is usually a lighter injury.
Meaning
Make an opening with something sharp
Collocations
cut your finger
|cut into fabric
|cut my hand
Synonyms
incise (More formal and technical, often used in medical contexts.)
Antonyms
heal (To recover from a wound; the opposite process of being cut.)
Themes
health
|daily life
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To hurt skin or make a hole in something with a knife or other sharp thing.
To injure or make an opening in skin, flesh, or material using something sharp.
VERB
B1
3
csökkent
B1
Usage pattern:
to cut [costs/prices/spending/etc.]
The company plans to cut costs by 20%.
A vállalat azt tervezi, hogy 20%-kal csökkenti a költségeket.
We need to cut our spending this month.
Ebben a hónapban csökkentenünk kell a kiadásainkat.
They cut the budget for education.
Learner examples
We will cut our travel costs.
Csökkenteni fogjuk az utazási költségeinket.
The store cuts prices in summer.
Az üzlet nyáron csökkenti az árakat.
They cut the noise after 10 p.m.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'cut down on' (reduce consumption) with 'cut off' (stop completely).
Meaning
Reduce size, amount, or level
Collocations
cut prices
|cut costs
|cut spending
Synonyms
reduce (More formal and general; 'cut' is more direct and often implies a sudden change.)
Antonyms
increase (To make something larger in size, amount, or degree.)
Themes
business
|economics
|daily life
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make something less in size, number, or amount.
To make something smaller in size, amount, or degree.
VERB
B1
4
Usage pattern:
to cut [someone/something] off/from [supply/service]
The utility company cut off our electricity for non-payment.
Az áramszolgáltató nemfizetés miatt kikapcsolta nálunk az áramot.
They cut off his internet access after the breach.
A biztonsági incidens után letiltották az internet-hozzáférését.
The rebels were cut off from supplies.
Learner examples
The bank cut off his credit card.
A bank letiltotta a hitelkártyáját.
They cut off water to fix the pipe.
Elzárták a vizet, hogy megjavítsák a csövet.
The teacher cut off the sound.
Meaning
Stop providing something
Collocations
cut off electricity
|cut off water supply
Synonyms
disconnect (Often used for stopping an electrical or network connection.)
Antonyms
provide (To make something available to someone.)
Themes
business
|technology
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To stop giving or supplying something.
To stop giving, sending, or making something available.
VERB
B2
5
félbeszakít
B1
lerövidít
B1
Usage pattern:
to cut [event/activity] short
We had to cut our vacation short because of illness.
Betegség miatt félbe kellett szakítanunk a nyaralásunkat.
The speech was cut short by protests.
A beszédet tiltakozások szakították félbe.
Rain cut short the baseball game.
Learner examples
We cut our walk short because it rained.
Az eső miatt félbe kellett szakítanunk a sétánkat.
The teacher cut the lesson short.
A tanár lerövidítette az órát.
They cut short the game due to wind.
Meaning
Stop an action early
Collocations
cut short a meeting
|cut short a trip
Synonyms
interrupt (Implies breaking into an activity rather than ending it early by choice.)
Antonyms
continue (To let something go on until its planned end.)
Themes
daily life
|work
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To stop doing something before it is finished.
To end an activity or process earlier than planned.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cut
IPA
GB/kˈʌt/
US/kˈʌt/
Syllables & stress
cut (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (cut)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: cut
- 3rd Person Singular: cuts
- Present Participle: cutting
- Past: cut
- Past Participle: cut
Word family
Forms
cuts
verb
cutting
verb
Core family
cutter
noun
Related words
haircut
noun A2
cutlery
noun
Negative and opposite forms
uncut
adjective
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: cutting Verb
- Irregular past: cut Verb
- Irregular past participle: cut Verb
Expressions
a cut above
1/ə kˈʌt əbˈʌv/
idiom
Better than others of same type
Better than other similar people or things.
Examples
- This restaurant is a cut above the rest in town.
- Her writing is a cut above her classmates' work.
cut down on
1/kˈʌt dˈaʊn ˈɔn/
phrasal verb
Reduce usage or amount of something
To use or do less of something.
Examples
- I'm trying to cut down on sugar.
- We need to cut down on expenses this year.
cut it out
1/kˈʌt ˈɪt ˈaʊt/
idiom
informal
Stop doing something now (informal)
Stop doing that right now because it is annoying or bad.
Examples
- Cut it out! You're being too loud.
- Hey, cut it out with the teasing.
cut off
1/kˈʌt ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
Stop supply or access to something
To stop giving something or stop someone from reaching it.
Examples
- The village was cut off by flooding.
- They cut off his phone service for non-payment.
cut corners
1/kˈʌt kˈɔɹnɚz/
idiom
Do work quickly but poorly to save time/money
To do something fast and cheap but not well, usually to save time or money.
Examples
- They cut corners on safety to finish faster.
- They built this house quickly and cut corners on safety.
- If we cut corners now, we'll have problems later.
- Don't cut corners when making food for customers.