axe
gb/ˈæks/ us/ˈæks/
A2
English
~ 5700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
tool for chopping wood
A tool with a long handle and heavy metal blade that you use to cut or split wood.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'axe' with 'ax'. Both spellings are correct in modern English; 'ax' is more common in American English, while 'axe' is more common in British English.
Synonyms
hatchet (Similar tool but usually smaller and used with one hand.)
|
chopper (Informal word for an axe, especially for cutting wood.)
Antonyms
saw (A cutting tool that removes material by sawing rather than chopping; a contrasting type of wood-cutting tool.)
Collocations
swing an axe
|sharpen an axe
|chop wood with an axe
|split logs with an axe
|wield an axe
|a sharp axe
Themes
tools
|home
|outdoors
|daily_life
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He took an axe from the shed and began chopping firewood.
- Make sure the axe is sharp before you start splitting logs.
- The old tree was so thick that even a heavy axe barely cut into it.
- She swung the axe over her shoulder and brought it down hard on the stump.
- They carried an axe on the hike in case they needed to clear fallen branches.
Learner examples
- He uses an axe to cut wood.
- The axe is very heavy, so I hold it with two hands.
- Please sharpen the axe before we start.
- She buys a new axe for the cabin.
- There is an axe next to the door of the shed.
Verb
informal
B2
action
2
to cancel or stop something
To stop or cancel a plan, show, job, or service, usually suddenly or to save money.
Usage pattern:
to axe [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'axe' can be used for canceling any small personal plan (e.g., 'I axed dinner with my friend'). Native speakers usually prefer 'cancel' in that context; 'axe' is more common for official or institutional decisions, or for dramatic effect.
Synonyms
cancel (Neutral and more general; not as strong or informal as 'axe'.)
|
scrap (Suggests throwing away or abandoning plans, often permanently.)
Antonyms
approve (To officially accept or allow something instead of stopping it.)
Collocations
axe a program
|axe a project
|axe jobs
|axe a show
|axe funding
|axe services
Themes
business
|media
|work
|finance
Examples
- The network axed the series after just one season.
- The company plans to axe 200 jobs to reduce costs.
- The government has axed funding for several arts programs.
- Due to low ticket sales, they decided to axe the tour.
- Our department may be axed in the next round of cuts.
Learner examples
- The TV station axed the show after one year.
- The company axed many jobs last month.
- The city may axe the bus service at night.
- They axed the project because it was too expensive.
- The school axed the class because only three students joined.
Noun
informal
B2
event
3
the act of firing or cutting
When jobs, programs, or services are stopped or cut, usually to save money.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to use 'axe' in this sense without 'the' (e.g., 'face axe'). In this meaning, it is almost always used with 'the': 'face the axe', 'escape the axe'.
Synonyms
cut (More general; can refer to many types of reductions, not just jobs or programs.)
|
dismissal (More formal; usually refers specifically to a person losing their job.)
Antonyms
expansion (Refers to increasing or adding programs or jobs instead of removing them.)
Collocations
face the axe
|get the axe
|escape the axe
|swing the axe
|wield the axe
|fear the axe
Themes
business
|economy
|work
|finance
Examples
- Hundreds of workers are facing the axe in the latest round of layoffs.
- Several local libraries are expected to get the axe next year.
- The youth program escaped the axe after a public campaign.
- Departments across the company fear the axe as profits fall.
- When the new CEO arrived, the axe soon followed.
Learner examples
- Many staff members fear the axe this year.
- Three small schools may get the axe.
- The music club escaped the axe after parents protested.
- Some bus lines will face the axe because of low use.
- The project got the axe after the budget was cut.
Verb
B2
action
4
to cut something with an axe
To use an axe to cut or break something.
Usage pattern:
to axe [something]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this physical meaning with the informal 'axe' meaning 'cancel'. In physical cutting contexts, there is usually a clear object like 'tree', 'door', or 'log', and often a place or tool context.
Synonyms
chop (Very close in meaning; does not specifically require an axe but often implies one.)
Antonyms
mend (To repair something instead of cutting or damaging it.)
Collocations
axe a tree
|axe a door
|axe firewood
|axe the branches off
|axe the log in half
|axe through the wood
Themes
tools
|outdoors
|home
|daily_life
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They axed down the dead tree before it could fall on the house.
- He axed the log into smaller pieces for the fire.
- Firefighters had to axe the door open to reach the trapped family.
- She axed off the lower branches to clear the path.
- He spent the afternoon axing wood behind the cabin.
Learner examples
- He axed the small tree in the yard.
- They axe the wood to make firewood.
- The man axed the door open to help the child.
- She axes the branch so the car can pass.
- We axed the log into four pieces.
Noun
slang
B2
entity
5
slang for electric guitar
An informal word for an electric guitar.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning is common in all situations. In fact, it is slang and mostly used among musicians or in casual speech about rock or jazz. In normal situations, 'guitar' is better.
Synonyms
guitar (Standard word; not slang or genre-specific.)
Antonyms
acoustic guitar (A contrasting type of guitar that is not electric; not a true opposite but a natural contrast.)
Collocations
play his axe
|pick up the axe
|shred on the axe
|lead axe
|plug in the axe
|a killer axe
Themes
music
|slang
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Examples
- He grabbed his axe and headed to band practice.
- The guitarist showed off a new custom axe on stage.
- She can really shred on that axe.
- The wall was lined with vintage axes from the 1960s.
- Before the show, he tuned his axe carefully.
Learner examples
- He brings his axe to the concert.
- The singer plays a red axe on stage.
- She loves to play her axe every night.
- Their band has two axes and a drum set.
- He is saving money to buy a new axe.
Noun
B2
entity
6
axe used as a weapon
A large axe used to fight in war or to kill someone, especially in the past.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes assume this weapon sense is the main meaning. In everyday modern language, the tool meaning is more common; the weapon sense appears mostly in stories, history, games, or fantasy.
Synonyms
battle-axe (Specifically a large axe designed for combat.)
Antonyms
shield (A defensive weapon, contrasting with the attacking use of an axe.)
Collocations
swing a battle axe
|carry an axe
|wield an axe
|two-handed axe
|executioner's axe
|raise his axe
Themes
history
|war
|fantasy
|law
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The warrior raised his axe and charged.
- An executioner with a huge axe stood by the scaffold.
- In the game, you can choose between a sword or an axe.
- She blocked the blow from his axe with her shield.
- The museum displays several medieval axes and swords.
Learner examples
- The soldier holds a big axe in the movie.
- The man with the axe stands next to the king.
- In this game, my character fights with an axe.
- The old story tells of a hero and his magic axe.
- The guard drops his axe when he hears the sound.
unknown
C1
action
7
to kill using an axe
To kill a person by hitting them with an axe.
Usage pattern:
to axe [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners might confuse this violent meaning with the neutral cutting sense. In crime or horror contexts, especially with 'to death' or 'victim', it strongly suggests killing, not just hitting.
Synonyms
butcher (To kill violently and cruelly; does not specify the weapon.)
Antonyms
spare (To choose not to kill someone.)
Collocations
axe someone to death
|axe the victim
|axe his family
|axe her in her sleep
|brutally axed
|axe murder
Themes
crime
|violence
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The killer axed his victim in a brutal attack.
- He was accused of axing his neighbor to death.
- The horror movie shows a man axing strangers in the woods.
- Witnesses said the attacker axed the couple while they were asleep.
- The novel opens with a family being axed in their home.
Learner examples
- In the story, a mad man axes a stranger.
- The movie shows a man axing people in a house.
- The killer axed the victim in the dark room.
- The police say he axed his friend after an argument.
- The book starts with a man axing his family.
Grammar
Dictionary form
axe
IPA
GB/ˈæks/
US/ˈæks/
Syllables & stress
axe (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (axe)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: axe
- Plural: axes
Verb
- Base: axe
- 3rd Person Singular: axes
- Present Participle: axing
- Past: axed
Word family
Forms
axes
noun
axing
verb
axed
verb
Related words
ax
noun B1
hatchet
noun
Expressions
axe to grind
1/ˈæks tə ɡɹˈaɪnd/
idiom
informal
to have a personal motive
To have a personal reason or secret goal that affects what you say or do.
Examples
- You should ignore his comments; he has an axe to grind.
- The article was written by someone with an obvious axe to grind.
- She insists she has no axe to grind in this debate.
drop the axe
1/dɹˈɑp ðə ˈæks/
idiom
informal
to announce or carry out cuts
For a company or authority to suddenly announce or make job cuts or other big cuts.
Examples
- We all knew the board would drop the axe sooner or later.
- The company finally dropped the axe and closed three factories.
- Employees are nervous, waiting for management to drop the axe.
face the axe
1/fˈeɪs ðə ˈæks/
idiom
informal
to be at risk of cuts
To be in danger of being removed, closed, or losing your job.
Examples
- Several regional offices face the axe in the restructuring.
- Dozens of teachers could face the axe if funding is reduced.
- Small local clinics may face the axe next year.
get the axe
1/ɡˈɛt ðə ˈæks/
idiom
informal
to be fired or canceled
To lose your job, or for a show, project, or service to be stopped.
Examples
- Three managers got the axe during the reorganization.
- Our favorite drama just got the axe after poor ratings.
- Several community centers may get the axe in the next budget.
give someone the axe
1/ɡˈɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn ðə ˈæks/
idiom
informal
to fire or dump someone
To fire someone from a job, or to suddenly end a romantic relationship with them.
Examples
- They gave him the axe after only six months at the company.
- She finally gave her boyfriend the axe after years of problems.
- Several underperforming sales reps are about to be given the axe.
give something the axe
1/ɡˈɪv sˈʌmθɪŋ ðə ˈæks/
idiom
informal
to cancel or cut something
To stop or cancel a project, service, plan, or activity completely.
Examples
- The council gave the plan the axe after strong public criticism.
- They gave the print edition the axe and went fully digital.
- Management gave the free lunch program the axe to save money.
hit with the axe
1/hˈɪt wˈɪθ ðə ˈæks/
idiom
informal
to be selected for cuts
To be one of the things that is cut, closed, or ended in a group of cuts.
Examples
- Several small charities were hit with the axe in the latest round of funding cuts.
- The evening news show was hit with the axe after the merger.
- Many part-time positions were hit with the axe first.
swing the axe
1/swˈɪŋ ðə ˈæks/
idiom
informal
to begin making cuts
To begin cutting jobs, closing things, or stopping programs.
Examples
- The company is ready to swing the axe after another year of losses.
- Analysts predict the government will soon swing the axe on public spending.
- When the new manager arrived, he quickly swung the axe in our department.
take an axe to something
1/tˈeɪk ən ˈæks tə sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
informal
to cut something drastically
To reduce something, such as a budget or plan, by a very large amount.
Examples
- The government has taken an axe to welfare spending.
- They took an axe to our travel budget this year.
- The editor took an axe to the original manuscript.
wield the axe
1/wˈild ðə ˈæks/
idiom
informal
to make cuts or dismissals
To be the person who decides to cut jobs or stop programs.
Examples
- The new CEO is expected to wield the axe to reduce costs.
- No one wants to be the one who has to wield the axe.
- After the merger, the finance director wielded the axe across departments.