Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
whittle down
phrasal verb
/ˈhwɪt.əl daʊn/
Definition
To reduce something in size, amount, or extent by gradually removing parts or making cuts.
Examples
- She had to whittle down her list of vacation destinations to just three.
- He whittled down the budget to make the project more affordable.
- After several meetings, they finally whittled down the candidates for the position.
Meaning
The phrase ‘whittle down’ is often used to describe the process of narrowing down options, reducing a list, or cutting back on excess.
Synonyms
- narrow down
- reduce
- cut back
- trim
