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scale back

to reduce in size or extent

In Phrasal Verbs

In more detail

1. (verb) to reduce the size, amount, or level of something

2. (verb) to make something smaller by removing some parts or reducing its extent

Examples

• 1. The company decided to scale back its operations due to the economic downturn.
• 2. We had to scale back our vacation plans because of unexpected expenses.

How to use scale back

Scale back is a phrasal verb meaning to reduce something systematically or proportionally, often in response to constraints like budget cuts or changing circumstances. It carries a sense of deliberate adjustment rather than abrupt cancellation, and is commonly used in business, project management, and policy contexts. It differs from simply cutting by implying a more measured reduction that maintains proportional relationships.

Common phrases

• scale back production
• scale back operations
• scale back spending
• scale back expectations
• scale back investment

Synonyms

reduce · decrease · cut back · trim · dial back

Opposites

scale up · expand · increase

Word family

scale · scaling back · scaled back

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use 'scale down' as a synonym, but in standard usage 'scale back' is the more common collocation for reducing size or amount; 'scale down' exists but is less frequent.

Nearby in Phrasal Verbs

play down, ramp up, reach out, shrug off, single out, tone down

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained