drop-off

1 of 2

noun

1
: a very steep or perpendicular descent
2
: a marked dwindling or decline
a drop-off in attendance
3
: the act or an instance of making a usually brief deposit or delivery
drop-off points along the route

drop off

2 of 2

verb

dropped off; dropping off; drops off

intransitive verb

: to fall asleep

Examples of drop-off in a Sentence

Noun the drop-off in movie attendance was the greatest in more than a decade Verb my interest in photography has dropped off over the years
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The drop-off program is in partnership with Universal Waste. Sarah Z. Sleeper, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2025 There will be a pick-up and drop-off area, however, and shuttles will be running all afternoon. Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 4 July 2025
Verb
In temperatures above 90°F, peppers, squash, tomatoes, and cucumbers drop off their flowers and even undeveloped fruit. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 June 2025 The church said donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, June 27, at Luxia River East, 336 Oakhurst Scenic Drive in Fort Worth. Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for drop-off

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1812, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of drop-off was in 1812

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Drop-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drop-off. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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