drop-off

1 of 2

noun

ˈdräp-ˌȯf 

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

ˌdräp-ˈȯf 

dropped off; dropping off; drops off

intransitive verb

: to fall asleep

Synonyms of drop-off

Noun

• decrease
• reduction
• drop
• decline
• dent

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

Noun

Such was the drop-off in form that Casemiro experienced at Manchester United, that he was omitted from Brazil’s Copa America squad in 2024 under previous coach Dorival Junior. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026

Health policy experts said the drop-off is the clearest sign yet that the lapse of federal subsidies for ACA premiums is making insurance too expensive for many Americans, leading many households to drop their coverage. — Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 3 July 2026

Verb

Nearly half of all children who were unknowingly left in hot cars were supposed to be dropped off at childcare, according to the group. — Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2026

School leaders told Miami Herald news partner CBS News Miami that a parent arrived to pick up their son but was told the child had never been dropped off. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1812, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for drop-off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff