curtail

/kɜːˈteɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /kɜːrˈteɪl/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)kər-ˈtāl/ (ame, mw)

curtail — verb

  • curtailpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • curtailshe / she / it
  • curtailedpast simple
  • curtailing-ing form

1. to cut down an activity, period, amount, or right so it becomes shorter or small

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to cut down an activity, period, amount, or right so it becomes shorter or smaller than planned

例句

Weekend train service was curtailed after workers announced a strike.

passive: service was curtailed

After the storm warning, Yumi curtailed the beach festival by two hours.

curtail + event + by time amount

同義詞
  • reduce

    more neutral and common; often used for numbers, costs, or levels

  • cut back

    more informal; common for spending, use, or activity

  • shorten

    more literal and common; often used for time or physical length

反義詞
  • extend

    general opposite; to make something last longer or cover more

  • prolong

    more formal; to make something continue for a longer time

文法句型

curtail + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often used for budgets, spending, time periods, rights, or services in reports and formal writing. It usually suggests a deliberate reduction by a person, company, or authority, not a natural change.

常見錯誤

❌The carpenter curtailed the table by ten centimeters.
✅The carpenter shortened the table by ten centimeters.
💡'curtail' is mainly used for time, amount, activity, or rights, not ordinary physical objects.
❌The rain curtailed by noon.
✅The rain stopped by noon.
💡'curtail' is usually transitive, so something curtails another activity, period, or amount.