# drop away

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drop-away
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to become smaller in number or amount, or to stop happening slowly over time.

For teachers: to decrease significantly in number, intensity, or volume; often used to describe a gradual reduction in participation or physical support.

## Examples

- The crowd began to drop away as the rain started.
- Support for the new law started to drop away once people realized how much it would cost.
- The runner's competitors began to drop away one by one as she maintained her punishing pace through the final lap of the race.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The leaves dropped away the tree." but "The leaves dropped away from the tree." — when describing physical separation, 'away' requires the preposition 'from' before the object.

## Usage notes

- usually used for groups of people, levels of support, or physical parts of a structure.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'drop off' (which often refers to falling asleep or a sharp decline in statistics) to show that 'drop away' often implies a loss of connection or presence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.