- 1[intransitive] to drop down from a higher level to a lower level September had come and the leaves were starting to fall. They were injured by falling rocks. + adv./prep. Several of the books had fallen onto the floor. One of the kids fell into the river. The handle had fallen off the drawer. He fell 20 feet onto the rocks below. The rain was falling steadily. stop standing
- 2[intransitive] to suddenly stop standing She slipped on the ice and fell. + adv./prep. I fell down and cut my knee. The house looked like it was about to fall down. see fallen
- 3[intransitive] + adv./prep. to hang down Her hair fell over her shoulders in a mass of curls. slope downward
- 4[intransitive] fall (away/off) to slope downward The land falls away sharply toward the river. decrease
- 5[intransitive] to decrease in amount, number, or strength Their profits have fallen by 30 percent. Prices continued to fall on the stock market today. The temperature fell sharply during the night. falling birth rates Her voice fell to a whisper. + noun The company's share price fell 30 cents. opposite rise be defeated
- 6[intransitive] to be defeated or captured The coup failed but the government fell shortly afterward. fall to somebody Troy finally fell to the Greeks. die in battle
- 7[intransitive] (literary) to die in battle; to be shot a memorial to those who fell in the two world wars
- 8[intransitive] to pass into a particular state; to begin to be something + adj. He had fallen asleep on the sofa. The book fell open at a page of illustrations. The room had fallen silent. She fell ill soon after and did not recover. fall into something I had fallen into conversation with a man on the train. The house had fallen into disrepair. + noun She knew she must not fall prey to his charm. happen/occur
- 9[intransitive] (literary) to come quickly and suddenly synonym descend A sudden silence fell. Darkness falls quickly in the tropics.
- 10[intransitive] + adv./prep. to happen or take place My birthday falls on a Monday this year.
- 11[intransitive] + adv./prep. to move in a particular direction or come in a particular position Which syllable does the stress fall on? My eye fell on (= I suddenly saw) a strange object. A shadow fell across her face. belong to group
- 12[intransitive] + adv./prep. to belong to a particular class, group, or area of responsibility Out of more than 400 staff, there are just seven that fall into this category. This case falls outside my jurisdiction. This falls under the heading of scientific research. Phrasal Verbsfall apartfall awayfall backfall back onfall behindfall behind withfall downfall forfall infall intofall offfall onfall outfall overfall over to dofall throughfall to
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NAmE//fɔl//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they fall he / she / it falls
past simple fell
past participle fallen
-ing form falling
Check pronunciation: fall