Meaning & use
scaling back
Last updated
“scaling back” is a form of “scale back”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
Reducing the size, amount, or extent of something, especially plans or spending.
Grammar: As a phrasal verb it can take an object (scale back production) or stand alone (we had to scale back).
Patterns
- scale back something
- scale something back
- scale back on something
The company is scaling back its advertising budget this year.
We had to scale back the wedding to save money.
They are scaling back on travel because of the new rules.
noununcountable
The act of reducing something, such as costs or operations.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase, often after 'a' or 'the': a scaling back of services.
Patterns
- a scaling back of something
- the scaling back of costs
The scaling back of the project disappointed the staff.
Investors welcomed the scaling back of expensive expansion plans.
Word forms
| base form | scale back |
|---|---|
| third person singular | scales back |
| past tense | scaled back |
| past participle | scaled back |
| -ing form | scaling back |
Common combinations
- scale back production
- The factory is scaling back production because demand has fallen.
- scale back spending
- The government is scaling back spending on roads.
- scale back on something
- Many families are scaling back on holidays this year.
- scale back plans
- They scaled back their plans for a new office.
- a scaling back of services
- Residents protested against the scaling back of local services.
Synonyms and how they differ
- reduce
- A general word for making something smaller; it does not carry the idea of cutting a large plan or operation.
- cut back
- Very close in meaning and often used with 'on'; cut back is slightly more informal.
- trim
- Suggests removing small extra amounts, while scaling back often means a bigger, planned reduction.
Opposites
Word family
- scale noun
- The size or level of something, or a set of marks for measuring.
- scale up phrasal verb
- To increase the size or amount of something.
Commonly confused: scaling back or scaling up?
scaling back vs scaling up
This is the opposite: making something bigger rather than smaller.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'scaling back' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Scaling back means reducing something, so cutting costs to save money fits. The other options describe growth or adding people, which is the opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “scaling back”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.