# fall /ˈfɑɫ/ (US) · /fˈɔːl/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fall Updated: 2026-08-15 ## Senses ### 1. to move downwards verb · CEFR A1 to drop down from a higher place towards the ground. For teachers: to descend freely under the influence of gravity; typically intransitive. - Be careful not to fall on the icy sidewalk. - The climbers watched helplessly as loose rocks began to fall from the ridge, bouncing violently down the steep mountain face. ### 2. to decrease verb · CEFR A2 to become less in amount, number, or strength. For teachers: to diminish in quantity, value, or intensity. - The temperature will fall below freezing tonight. - Stock prices continued to fall throughout the afternoon session as investors reacted to the disappointing quarterly earnings report. ### 3. to happen on a date verb · CEFR B1 to happen on a specific day or date. For teachers: to occur or happen on a particular day of the week or calendar date. - My birthday falls on a Monday this year. - Because the national holiday falls on a Sunday, most offices will remain closed on the following Monday to compensate. ### 5. the season noun · CEFR A2 · American English the season between summer and winter when leaves change colour. For teachers: the season of the year between summer and winter; the period of the autumnal equinox. - We love to go hiking in the fall when the leaves are red and gold. - The university campus is particularly beautiful in the fall, though the maintenance crew struggles to keep the paths clear of damp leaves. Usage: Commonly used in North America; British English speakers almost exclusively use 'autumn'. ### 6. a drop noun · CEFR A2 an act of dropping down or losing balance. For teachers: an act of descending or dropping under gravity; a loss of balance resulting in a collision with the ground. - He had a bad fall and bruised his knee. - The elderly man was kept in the hospital for observation following a nasty fall in his kitchen. ### 7. a decrease noun · CEFR B1 a reduction in the amount or level of something. For teachers: a reduction in quantity, value, or degree. - There has been a sharp fall in unemployment this year. - Economists are concerned that a sudden fall in consumer spending could trigger a wider recession in the coming months. ### 8. loss of power noun · CEFR B2 the loss of a high position, power, or success. For teachers: a loss of greatness, status, or political power; a defeat. - The movie tells the story of the king's rise and fall. - Historians continue to debate the primary causes behind the fall of the Roman Empire and its subsequent fragmentation. ### 9. waterfall noun · CEFR B1 a place where water drops down from a high point. For teachers: a cascade of water falling from a height; frequently used in the plural form for specific geographic features. - We hiked for three hours to see the famous falls. - The mist rising from the base of the falls created a permanent rainbow that delighted the gathered tourists. ### 10. blame noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang taking the blame or punishment for something wrong. For teachers: responsibility or blame for a failure or crime; often used in the idiom 'take the fall'. - He wasn't the leader, but he agreed to take the fall for the group. - The junior executive realized he was being set up to take the fall for the accounting discrepancies discovered by the auditors. ## Examples - The leaves turn bright red and orange in the fall. - Every fall, the local farmers set up a market to sell pumpkins and fresh apple cider. - While the term autumn is preferred in British English, fall remains the standard designation in the United States, evoking the period when deciduous trees shed their foliage in preparation for winter. --- 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.