# fell

/ˈfɛɫ/ (US) · /fˈɛl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fell
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. past tense of fall

verb · CEFR A2

the past tense of the word 'fall'.

For teachers: the simple past tense of the intransitive verb 'fall'.

- The temperature fell quickly as soon as the sun went down.
- The stock market fell sharply following the announcement of the new trade restrictions, wiping out months of steady gains in a single afternoon.

### 2. to cut down

verb · CEFR B2

to cut down a tree or knock someone down with a blow.

For teachers: to cause to fall by cutting, knocking, or striking. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The workers had to fell the old oak tree because it was rotting.
- The lumberjacks were hired to fell the diseased timber before the infestation could spread to the healthier parts of the forest.

### 3. a hill or moor

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Dialect

a high, rocky hill or a wild area of open land, common in Northern England.

For teachers: a high and barren landscape feature, such as a mountain or upland moor. Often associated with the geography of Northern England and Scandinavia.

- We spent the whole afternoon walking across the fells in the Lake District.
- The hikers struggled to find the path as a thick mist descended over the fells, obscuring the rocky ridges and steep drops.

### 4. cruel or deadly

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary

very cruel, fierce, or deadly.

For teachers: of a strong and cruel nature; eager and unsparing. Often used in the fixed phrase 'in one fell swoop'.

- The king's fell plan was to take over the neighbouring lands by force.
- The entire village was destroyed in one fell swoop, leaving the survivors to wonder how such a catastrophe could occur so suddenly.

## Examples

- We spent the whole day hiking across the fell.
- The mist rolled down from the high fell, making it difficult for the hikers to find the path back to the village.
- The rugged beauty of the northern fell attracts thousands of visitors each year, though the weather can change with dangerous speed on the exposed ridges.

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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.