Fall — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ˈfȯl/

Meaning & Definition of Fall

Fall (verb)

  1. to descend freely by the force of gravity
  2. to hang freely
  3. to drop oneself to a lower position

Fall (noun)

  1. the act of falling by the force of gravity
  2. a falling out, off, or away, dropping
  3. the season when leaves fall from trees, autumn

Fall (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or suitable for autumn

Fall (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily

    "better sand that walkway before somebody falls on the ice"

  2. to yield to the control or power of enemy forces

    "the city fell after weeks of merciless bombardment"

    opposite: endure, stand
  3. to go to a lower level especially abruptly

    "word soon got out that the movie was no good, and box-office receipts fell like a rock"

    opposite: arise, ascend, lift, mount, rise, soar, spike, up
  4. to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

    "manufacturing in the area is falling, and closing signs are going up all over"

  5. to lead or extend downward

    "the lake bottom falls sharply just a few feet from the shoreline, so be careful"

  6. to undergo defeat

    "not surprisingly, the novice player fell to a much stronger opponent"

    opposite: conquer, prevail, triumph, win
  7. to commit an offense

    "even saints can fall"

  8. to stop living

    "if their brave leader falls, the men will lose their courage"

    opposite: breathe, live

Fall (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily

    "a bad fall that resulted in several broken bones"

    similar: slip, spill, stumble, tumble
  2. a change to a lower state or level

    "last night's record fall in temperature was a sure sign that winter's coming, like it or not"

    opposite: ascent, rise, upswing
  3. a loss of status

    "being sent back to the minor leagues was quite a fall for the once-promising pitcher"

  4. the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude

    "panicked during his first unassisted fall when his parachute's rip cord didn't respond to the first tug"

  5. the amount by which something is lessened

    "that year the fall in prices was 10 cents for a gallon of regular gas"

  6. a fall of water usually from a great height

    "tourists were shocked to see a man jump into the water and go over the falls"

  7. a downward slope

    "the sharp fall of the land sends rivers rushing to the seas"

Related Entry: Autumn (noun)

Autumn is a different word from Fall. The synonyms below are for autumn, not for fall.

  1. a later period of one's life

    "with autumn came a mellowness of spirit that she had never shown before"

    opposite: springtime

Related Entry: Fall (to) (verb)

Fall (to) is a different word from Fall. The synonyms below are for fall (to), not for fall.

  1. to take the first step in (a process or course of action)

    "after some refreshments, she fell to working with renewed vigor"

Related Entry: Fall away (verb)

Fall away is a different word from Fall. The synonyms below are for fall away, not for fall.

  1. to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

    "as the years went by, the public's interest in the murder case fell away"

Related Entry: Fall back (verb)

Fall back is a different word from Fall. The synonyms below are for fall back, not for fall.

  1. to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)

    "resistance from native forces was greater than expected, and the invading army was forced to fall back"

    opposite: advance

Related Entry: Fall guy (noun)

Fall guy is a different word from Fall. The synonyms below are for fall guy, not for fall.

  1. a person or thing taking the blame for others

    "the sandlot ball players wanted the littlest kid to be the fall guy for the broken window, figuring that he'd have the best chance of escaping punishment"

Related Entry: Fall off (verb)

Fall off is a different word from Fall. The synonyms below are for fall off, not for fall.

  1. to turn away from a straight line or course

    "the coastline falls off toward the north after you round the bay"

    opposite: straighten

Related Entry: Fall out (verb)

Fall out is a different word from Fall. The synonyms below are for fall out, not for fall.

  1. to express different opinions about something often angrily

    "club members were soon falling out about how to spend the money they'd made washing cars"

  2. to come to be

    "I had planned to have a sports career, but things fell out otherwise"

Related Entry: Fall apart (phrase)

Fall apart is a different word from Fall. The synonyms below are for fall apart, not for fall.

  1. to go through decomposition

    "The old house was falling apart before the restoration."

  2. to yield to mental or emotional stress

    "He fell apart after his wife left."

    related: choke

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Fall

The most common words with a similar meaning to Fall:

Chiefly British: peg out
British: snuff it

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Fall

Words with the opposite meaning of Fall:

Near Antonyms of Fall

Word Forms of Fall

Inflections: fell, fallen, falling

Origin & Etymology of Fall

Middle English, from Old English feallan; akin to Old High German fallan to fall and perhaps to Lithuanian pulti

First known use: before 12th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Fall

Words & Phrases Containing Fall

Frequently Asked Questions about Fall

What does "Fall" mean?

"Fall" means to descend freely by the force of gravity. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to descend freely by the force of gravity. It has 15 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Fall"?

Other words for "Fall" include slip, stumble, topple, trip, tumble, capitulate, give up and knuckle under. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Fall" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Fall"?

There are 265 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Fall". Common alternatives include slip, stumble, topple, trip, tumble, capitulate, give up, knuckle under, submit and succumb.

What is a slang word for "Fall"?

Slang words for "Fall" include croak, kick in and kick off.

What is the opposite of "Fall"?

Antonyms of "Fall" include get up, rise, stand (up), uprise, endure, stand, arise and ascend. Near antonyms include buck, defy, fight and oppose.

How do you use "Fall" in a sentence?

Examples of "Fall" in a sentence: "better sand that walkway before somebody falls on the ice"; "the city fell after weeks of merciless bombardment"; "word soon got out that the movie was no good, and box-office receipts fell like a rock".

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

"Fall" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

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

As an A1-level word, "Fall" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.