What does "fall" mean?
The act of moving to a lower position under the effect of gravity.
Fall
/fɔːl/ intj, name, noun, verb, slang
intj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of moving to a lower position under the effect of gravity.
- Grammar: fall is listed as intj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: autumn, decline, drop, abate.
- Useful contrasts: upward flight, abundance increase, appreciating.
- Usage evidence: Despite Trang's constant affirmations of love, Spenser is still afraid someday she will fall out of love with him.
How to use "fall"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "fall" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "fall" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "fall" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "fall" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "fall" is acting as intj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "autumn" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "fall", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of moving to a lower position under the effect of gravity. countable, uncountable
"the fall of the snow"
- 2 The chasing of a hunted whale.
- 3 the act of surrendering (usually under agreed conditions) wordnet
- 4 A reduction in quantity, pitch, etc. countable, uncountable
"“I'm through with all pawn-games,” I laughed. “Come, let us have a game of lansquenet. Either I will take a farewell fall out of you or you will have your sevenfold revenge”."
- 5 a sudden drop from an upright position wordnet
Show 22 more definitions
- 6 The time of the year when the leaves typically fall from the trees; autumn; the season of the year between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice. Canada, US, archaic, countable, uncountable
"A friend has pointed out to me the following remark on this word: "In North America the season in which this [the fall of the leaf] takes place, derives its name from that circumstance, and instead of autumn is universally called the fall." [brackets in original]"
- 7 a lapse into sin; a loss of innocence or of chastity wordnet
- 8 A loss of greatness or status. countable, uncountable
"the fall of Rome"
- 9 a sudden sharp decrease in some quantity wordnet
- 10 That which falls or cascades. countable, uncountable
"A fall of hair tumbled down one side of her body like a veil."
- 11 a free and rapid descent by the force of gravity wordnet
- 12 The height of that which falls or cascades. countable, uncountable
- 13 a movement downward wordnet
- 14 A crucial event or circumstance.; The action of a batsman being out. countable, uncountable
- 15 a sudden decline in strength or number or importance wordnet
- 16 A crucial event or circumstance.; A defect in the ice which causes stones thrown into an area to drift in a given direction. countable, uncountable
- 17 when a wrestler's shoulders are forced to the mat wordnet
- 18 A crucial event or circumstance.; An instance of a wrestler being pinned to the mat. countable, uncountable
- 19 a downward slope or bend wordnet
- 20 A hairpiece for women consisting of long strands of hair on a woven backing, intended primarily to cover hair loss. countable, uncountable
"Female patients with localized hair loss on the top of scalp could select a fall or a demiwig to camouflage crown and anterior scalp loss."
- 21 the time of day immediately following sunset wordnet
- 22 Blame or punishment for a failure or misdeed. US, countable, informal, uncountable
"He set up his rival to take the fall."
- 23 the season when the leaves fall from the trees wordnet
- 24 The part of the rope of a tackle to which the power is applied in hoisting (usu. plural). countable, uncountable
"Have the goodness to secure the falls of the mizzen halyards."
- 25 An old Scots unit of measure equal to six ells. countable, uncountable
- 26 A short, flexible piece of leather forming part of a bullwhip, placed between the thong and the cracker. countable, uncountable
"Brooks fitted a new fall to his whip."
- 27 The lid, on a piano, that covers the keyboard. countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To be moved downwards.; To move to a lower position under the effect of gravity. intransitive
"Thrown from a cliff, the stone fell 100 feet before hitting the ground."
- 2 pass suddenly and passively into a state of body or mind wordnet
- 3 To be moved downwards.; To come down, to drop or descend. intransitive
"The rain fell at dawn."
- 4 decrease in size, extent, or range wordnet
- 5 To be moved downwards.; To come as if by dropping down. intransitive
"Once or twice a noise fell upon his quick ear, and we halted, he standing revolver in hand in an attitude of defense. Each time, however, we ascertained that we had no occasion for alarm, the noise being made by some animal or bird ..."
Show 52 more definitions
- 6 come as if by falling wordnet
- 7 To be moved downwards.; To come to the ground deliberately, to prostrate oneself. intransitive
"He fell to the floor and begged for mercy."
- 8 go as if by falling wordnet
- 9 To be moved downwards.; To be brought to the ground. intransitive
- 10 occur at a specified time or place wordnet
- 11 To move downwards.; To let fall; to drop. obsolete, transitive
"For every tear he falls, a Trojan bleeds."
- 12 begin vigorously wordnet
- 13 To move downwards.; To sink; to depress. obsolete, transitive
"to fall the voice"
- 14 be born, used chiefly of lambs wordnet
- 15 To move downwards.; To fell; to cut down. UK, US, archaic, dialectal, transitive
"to fall a tree"
- 16 come out; issue wordnet
- 17 To change, often negatively.; To become (chiefly used with negative states). copulative, intransitive
"Near-synonyms: become, get, go, turn, come, grow, wax"
- 18 be cast down wordnet
- 19 To change, often negatively.; To collapse; to be overthrown or defeated. intransitive
"Rome fell to the Goths in 410 AD."
- 20 assume a disappointed or sad expression wordnet
- 21 To change, often negatively.; To die, especially in battle or by disease. euphemistic, formal, intransitive
"This is a monument to all those who fell in the First World War."
- 22 fall or flow in a certain way wordnet
- 23 To change, often negatively.; To become lower (in quantity, pitch, etc.). intransitive
"The candidate's poll ratings fell abruptly after the banking scandal."
- 24 move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way wordnet
- 25 To occur (on a certain day of the week, date, or similar); to happen.
"Thanksgiving always falls on a Thursday."
- 26 descend in free fall under the influence of gravity wordnet
- 27 To be allotted to; to arrive through chance, fate, or inheritance. intransitive
"And so it falls to me to make this important decision."
- 28 drop oneself to a lower or less erect position wordnet
- 29 To diminish; to lessen or lower. obsolete, transitive
"Upon lessening interest to four per cent, you fall the price of your native commodities."
- 30 lose an upright position suddenly wordnet
- 31 To bring forth. obsolete, transitive
"to fall lambs"
- 32 slope downward wordnet
- 33 To issue forth into life; to be brought forth; said of the young of certain animals. intransitive, obsolete
"As for Calves newly fallen, you must leave them with good Litter of fresh Straw until such qime as the Cows have licked and cleansed them,"
- 34 move in a specified direction wordnet
- 35 To descend in character or reputation; to become degraded; to sink into vice, error, or sin. intransitive
"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."
- 36 be inherited by wordnet
- 37 To become ensnared or entrapped; to be worse off than before. intransitive
"to fall into error; to fall into difficulties; to fall into ruin"
- 38 fall to somebody by assignment or lot; passed wordnet
- 39 To assume a look of shame or disappointment; to become or appear dejected; said of the face. intransitive
"Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell."
- 40 come into the possession of wordnet
- 41 To happen; to come to pass; to chance or light (upon). intransitive
"Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall."
- 42 be captured wordnet
- 43 To begin with haste, ardour, or vehemence; to rush or hurry. intransitive
"After arguing, they fell to blows."
- 44 to be given by assignment or distribution wordnet
- 45 To be dropped or uttered carelessly. intransitive
"An unguarded expression fell from his lips."
- 46 to be given by right or inheritance wordnet
- 47 To hang down (under the influence of gravity). intransitive
"An Empire-style dress has a high waistline – directly under the bust – from which the dress falls all the way to a hem as low as the floor."
- 48 lose office or power wordnet
- 49 To visit; to go to a place. intransitive, slang
"We'll fall over to the club tonight."
- 50 suffer defeat, failure, or ruin wordnet
- 51 yield to temptation or sin wordnet
- 52 lose one's chastity wordnet
- 53 touch or seem as if touching visually or audibly wordnet
- 54 die, as in battle or in a hunt wordnet
- 55 be due wordnet
- 56 come under, be classified or included wordnet
- 57 fall from clouds wordnet
Intj
- 1 The cry given when a whale is sighted, or harpooned.
Proper Noun
- 1 The sudden fall of humanity into a state of sin, as brought about by the transgression of Adam and Eve.
- 2 A surname.
Antonyms
Example
"Despite Trang's constant affirmations of love, Spenser is still afraid someday she will fall out of love with him."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "fall"?
Common synonyms include: autumn, decline, drop, abate, abatement, ablate.
How do you use "fall" in a sentence?
Despite Trang's constant affirmations of love, Spenser is still afraid someday she will fall out of love with him.
How do you pronounce "fall"?
Pronounced /fɔːl/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Verb from Middle English fallen, from Old English feallan (“to fall, fail, decay, die, attack”), from Proto-West Germanic *fallan (“to fall”), from Proto-Germanic *fallaną (“to fall”). Cognate with West Frisian falle (“to fall”), Low German fallen (“to fall”), Dutch vallen (“to fall”), German fallen (“to fall”), Danish falde (“to fall”), Norwegian Bokmål falle (“to fall”), Norwegian Nynorsk falla (“to fall”), Icelandic falla (“to fall”), Lithuanian pùlti (“to attack, rush”). Noun from Middle English fal, fall, falle, from Old English feall, ġefeall (“a falling, fall”) and Old English fealle (“trap, snare”), from Proto-Germanic *fallą, *fallaz (“a fall, trap”). Cognate with Dutch val, German Fall (“fall”) and German Falle (“trap, snare”), Danish fald, Swedish fall, Icelandic fall. Sense of "autumn" is attested by the 1660s in England as a shortening of fall of the leaf (1540s), from the falling of leaves during this season. Along with autumn, it mostly replaced the older name harvest as that name began to be associated strictly with the act of harvesting. Compare spring, which began as a shortening of “spring of the leaf”.
Etymology 2
Perhaps from the north-eastern Scottish pronunciation of whale.