Cull — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈkəl/

Meaning & Definition of Cull

Cull (verb)

  1. to select from a group, choose
  2. to reduce or control the size of (something, such as a herd) by removal (as by hunting or slaughter) of especially weak or sick individuals; also, to hunt or kill (individuals) for culling

Cull (noun)

  1. something rejected especially as being inferior or worthless

Cull (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others

    "the unbruised apples will be packed in bags, and the culls will be used for cider"

    similar: discard, reject, rejection, second
    related: castaway, throwaway, hand-me-down, white elephant, rubbish, scrap, trash, waste

Cull (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to decide to accept (someone or something) from a group of possibilities

    "culled the best short stories from the author's body of writings"

    similar: cherry-pick, choose, elect, handpick, name, opt (for), pick, prefer, select, single (out), tag, take
    related: preselect, appoint, designate, fix, mark, nominate, set, tab, tap, accept, adopt, embrace, espouse, settle (on or upon)
    opposite: decline, refuse, reject, turn down
    near: disapprove, negative, repudiate, spurn, discard, jettison, throw away, throw out

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cull

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cull:

discard, reject, rejection, second, cherry-pick, choose, elect, handpick, name, opt (for), pick, prefer, select, single (out), tag, take

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cull

Words with the opposite meaning of Cull:

decline, refuse, reject, turn down

Related Words for Cull

castaway, throwaway, hand-me-down, white elephant, rubbish, scrap, trash, waste, preselect, appoint, designate, fix, mark, nominate, set, tab, tap, accept, adopt, embrace, espouse, settle (on or upon)

Near Antonyms of Cull

disapprove, negative, repudiate, spurn, discard, jettison, throw away, throw out

Word Forms of Cull

Inflections: culled, culling, culls

Derived words: culler (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Cull

Middle English, from Anglo-French culier, coillir, from Latin colligere to bind together collect

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Cull

Frequently Asked Questions about Cull

What does "Cull" mean?

"Cull" means to select from a group, choose. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to select from a group, choose. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Cull"?

Other words for "Cull" include discard, reject, rejection, second, cherry-pick, choose, elect and handpick. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cull" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cull"?

There are 38 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cull". Common alternatives include discard, reject, rejection, second, cherry-pick, choose, elect, handpick, name and opt (for).

What is the opposite of "Cull"?

Antonyms of "Cull" include decline, refuse, reject and turn down. Near antonyms include disapprove, negative, repudiate and spurn.

How do you use "Cull" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cull" in a sentence: "the unbruised apples will be packed in bags, and the culls will be used for cider"; "culled the best short stories from the author's body of writings".

Is "Cull" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Cull" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Cull" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Cull" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Cull"?

"Cull" is pronounced /ˈkəl/.