curtail
/kɜːˈteɪl/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To reduce something by limiting it or making it shorter. It often suggests an official or deliberate action.
- The government curtailed public spending.
- Bad weather curtailed the match.
- They curtailed the trip because of time.
Adinary Nuance
Curtail is more formal than words like "reduce" or "cut". It often suggests that a plan, activity, or freedom is being limited by authority or by circumstances. Writers choose it when they want to sound precise and somewhat serious, not casual.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hạn chế
- Spanish
- reducir
- Chinese
- 缩减
- Japanese
- 削減する
- Korean
- 축소하다
Etymology
Curtail came into English from Old French in the late Middle Ages. It originally meant to cut something short, especially a tail, and later developed the wider meaning of reducing or limiting.
Common phrases
curtail spendingcurtail a tripcurtail freedomcurtail activity
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is curtail formal or informal?
- Curtail is fairly formal. It is common in news, reports, and academic writing.
- What is the difference between curtail and reduce?
- Reduce is broader and more common. Curtail often means limiting something, especially an activity, freedom, or plan.
- Can I use curtail in everyday speech?
- Yes, but it may sound a little formal. In speech, people often say "cut back" or "reduce" instead.
- Does curtail mean completely stop?
- No. It usually means make something smaller or shorter, not always stop it fully.