EnglishMain Dictionary
fall
Universal Words
verb, noun
verb
(fell )
drop down
1 [V] [usually +adv./prep.] to drop down from a higher level to a lower level:
Several of the books had fallen onto the floor. * One of the kids fell into the river. * The handle had fallen off the drawer. * September had come and the leaves were starting to fall. * He fell 20 metres onto the rocks below. * The rain was falling steadily. * They were injured by falling rocks.
stop standing
2 [V] [usually +adv./prep.] to suddenly stop standing:
She slipped on the ice and fell. * I fell over and cut my knee. * The house looked as if it was about to fall down.
seealsoFALLEN
of hair / material
3 [V+adv./prep.] to hang down:
Her hair fell over her shoulders in a mass of curls.
slope downwards
4 [V] ~ (away / off) to slope downwards:
Beyond the hill, the land falls away sharply towards the river.
decrease
5 to decrease in amount, number or strength:
[V] Their profits have fallen by 30 per cent. * Prices continued to fall on the stock market today. * The temperature fell sharply in the night. * falling birth rates * (written) Her voice fell to a whisper. * [VN] Share prices fell 30p.
be defeated
6 [V] to be defeated or captured:
The coup failed but the government fell shortly afterwards. * Troy finally fell to the Greeks.
die in battle
7 [V] (literary) to die in battle; to be shot:
a memorial to those who fell in the two world wars
become
8 to pass into a particular state; to begin to be sth:
[V-ADJ] He had fallen asleep on the sofa. * The book fell open at a page of illustrations. * (written) The room had fallen silent. * She fell ill soon after and did not recover. * [V] I had fallen into conversation with a man on the train. * The house had fallen into disrepair. * [V-N] She knew she must not fall prey to his charm.
happen / occur
9 [V] ~ (on sb/sth) (literary) to come quickly and suddenly
SYNDESCEND:
A sudden silence fell. * Darkness falls quickly in the tropics. * An expectant hush fell on the guests.
10 [V+adv./prep.] to happen or take place:
My birthday falls on a Monday this year.
11 [V+adv./prep.] to move in a particular direction or come in a particular position:
My eye fell on (= I suddenly saw) a curious object. * Which syllable does the stress fall on? * A shadow fell across her face.
belong to group
12 [V+adv./prep.] to belong to a particular class, group or area of responsibility:
Out of over 400 staff there are just 7 that fall into this category. * This case falls outside my jurisdiction. * This falls under the heading of scientific research.
IDIOMS
Idioms containing fall are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example fall by the wayside is at wayside.
PHRASALVERBS
fall about (BrE, informal) to laugh a lot:
[+-ing] We all fell about laughing.
fall apart
1 to be in very bad condition so that parts are breaking off:
My car is falling apart.
2 to have so many problems that it is no longer possible to exist or function:
Their marriage finally fell apart. * The deal fell apart when we failed to agree on a price.
fall away to become gradually fewer or smaller; to disappear:
His supporters fell away as his popularity declined. * The market for their products fell away to almost nothing. * All our doubts fell away. * The houses fell away as we left the city.
fall back
1 to move or turn back
SYNRETREAT:
The enemy fell back as our troops advanced.
2 to decrease in value or amount:
Share prices fell back after brisk early trading.
fall back on sb/sth [nopassive] to go to sb for support; to have sth to use when you are in difficulty:
I have a little money in the bank to fall back on. * She fell back on her usual excuse of having no time.
relatednounFALLBACK
fall behind
