Curtail: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to indicate reducing or limiting something, often related to time, expenses, or activities. Has a formal tone.

• The company will curtail its spending next year

Used when making something shorter in length or duration. Can be used in everyday conversation as well as in formal contexts.

• We need to shorten the rope to make it safe to use

Used when cutting off the end of something. Often found in technical or formal writings.

• The script was too long, so we had to truncate it to fit the time slot

Used when shortening words, phrases, or texts. Common in writing and formal documentation.

• The title of the book was too long, so the publisher decided to abbreviate it

Used when something is reduced in size, importance, or intensity. Can have a negative connotation.

• His influence in the company started to diminish after the scandal

Used when talking about reducing the length or amount of something, often in a more formal or official setting.

• The government decided to curtail spending on public services.
• They had to curtail their holiday due to unforeseen circumstances.

Generally used to talk about limiting the freedom or movement of someone or something, and often involves rules or laws.

• The new policy will restrict access to the building during off-hours.
• They plan to restrict the use of plastic bags to reduce environmental impact.

Generally used to refer to setting a maximum amount or boundary for something.

• They need to limit the number of attendees due to space constraints.
• Parents often limit screen time for their children.

Often used to describe limiting someone's actions or preventing something from developing freely; it can imply a strong restriction or pressure.

• His creativity was constrained by the limitations of the software.
• Financial difficulties constrained their ability to expand the business.

Used when discussing controlling someone's actions or emotions, often implying physical force or self-control.

• The security had to restrain the unruly spectator.
• She struggled to restrain her anger during the meeting.