fall
- 01 A1 Beginner
v.to drop down from a higher place towards the ground.
v.to descend freely under the influence of gravity; typically intransitive.
Simple“Be careful not to fall on the icy sidewalk.”
In context“The climbers watched helplessly as loose rocks began to fall from the ridge, bouncing violently down the steep mountain face.”
PitfallThe leaves are falling from the tree. The leaves are falling off the tree.While 'from' is grammatically possible, 'off' is more common when something was attached to a surface before falling.
- 02 A2 Elementary
v.to become less in amount, number, or strength.
v.to diminish in quantity, value, or intensity.
Simple“The temperature will fall below freezing tonight.”
In context“Stock prices continued to fall throughout the afternoon session as investors reacted to the disappointing quarterly earnings report.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
v.to happen on a specific day or date.
v.to occur or happen on a particular day of the week or calendar date.
Simple“My birthday falls on a Monday this year.”
In context“Because the national holiday falls on a Sunday, most offices will remain closed on the following Monday to compensate.”
- 04 A2 Elementary
n.the season between summer and winter when leaves change colour.
n.the season of the year between summer and winter; the period of the autumnal equinox.
Simple“We love to go hiking in the fall when the leaves are red and gold.”
In context“The university campus is particularly beautiful in the fall, though the maintenance crew struggles to keep the paths clear of damp leaves.”
UsageCommonly used in North America; British English speakers almost exclusively use 'autumn'.
- 05 A2 Elementary
n.an act of dropping down or losing balance.
n.an act of descending or dropping under gravity; a loss of balance resulting in a collision with the ground.
Simple“He had a bad fall and bruised his knee.”
In context“The elderly man was kept in the hospital for observation following a nasty fall in his kitchen.”
- 06 B1 Intermediate
n.a reduction in the amount or level of something.
n.a reduction in quantity, value, or degree.
Simple“There has been a sharp fall in unemployment this year.”
In context“Economists are concerned that a sudden fall in consumer spending could trigger a wider recession in the coming months.”
- 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the loss of a high position, power, or success.
n.a loss of greatness, status, or political power; a defeat.
Simple“The movie tells the story of the king's rise and fall.”
In context“Historians continue to debate the primary causes behind the fall of the Roman Empire and its subsequent fragmentation.”
- 08 B1 Intermediate
n.a place where water drops down from a high point.
n.a cascade of water falling from a height; frequently used in the plural form for specific geographic features.
Simple“We hiked for three hours to see the famous falls.”
In context“The mist rising from the base of the falls created a permanent rainbow that delighted the gathered tourists.”
- 09 C1 Advanced
n.taking the blame or punishment for something wrong.
n.responsibility or blame for a failure or crime; often used in the idiom 'take the fall'.
Simple“He wasn't the leader, but he agreed to take the fall for the group.”
In context“The junior executive realized he was being set up to take the fall for the accounting discrepancies discovered by the auditors.”
Synonyms
fall vs fell — Fall is an intransitive verb meaning to drop down, while fell is the transitive action of knocking something over.
Usage fall short · fall in love · fall apart