# fall in

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fall-in
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to collapse inwards

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to break and drop down towards the center of something.

For teachers: to collapse or cave inwards, typically describing a roof, ceiling, or structural support.

- The old wooden roof was so weak that it started to fall in after the heavy snow.
- The abandoned warehouse was deemed a public hazard after the central rafters began to fall in during the winter storms.

Usage: This verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

### 2. to form a line

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to stand in a straight line or a specific position, usually in the army.

For teachers: to take one's place in a military rank or formal formation.

- The sergeant shouted at the soldiers to fall in for the morning inspection.
- Upon hearing the whistle, the recruits were expected to fall in immediately, standing at attention in perfectly straight rows.

Usage: Often used as a command in military contexts.

### 3. to end or expire

phrasal verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

to come to an end or stop being valid.

For teachers: to terminate, lapse, or cease to be operative, often in a legal or contractual sense.

- The lease on the property will fall in at the end of the year.
- The rights to the estate are scheduled to fall in next month, returning the land to the original trust.

Usage: Primarily used in British legal contexts regarding property or leases.

## Examples

- The captain shouted at the soldiers to fall in.
- As soon as the whistle blew, the recruits scrambled to fall in for the morning inspection.
- The sergeant major watched with a critical eye as the exhausted infantrymen struggled to fall in before the general arrived.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: contrast with 'fall out' (to leave the formation); it is helpful to explain that 'in' refers to the internal structure of the line or group.

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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.