Synonyms of drop

drop 1 of 4

verb (1)

1

as in to throw

to cause to fall intentionally or unintentionally

I dropped the fly ball

drop the anchor

Synonyms & Similar Words

• throw
• flatten
• throw down
• lower
• depress
• topple
• plop
• floor
• strike down
• level
• knock over
• fumble
• sink
• knock down
• submerge
• plunk down
• bungle
• immerse
• bobble
• foozle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• raise
• lift
• pick up

2

as in to plunge

to go to a lower level especially abruptly

although they start out high, prices for home electronics eventually drop

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plunge
• dip
• fall
• decline
• tumble
• plummet
• decrease
• skid
• descend
• dive
• sink
• lower
• crash
• nose-dive
• die (down)
• diminish
• subside
• retreat
• moderate
• crater
• taper off
• droop
• lessen
• dwindle
• wane
• ebb
• let up
• abate
• recede
• de-escalate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• lift
• arise
• spike
• ascend
• mount
• soar
• increase
• up
• build
• grow
• expand
• accumulate
• swell
• intensify
• escalate
• pick up
• enlarge
• snowball
• wax
• mushroom
• balloon
• burgeon
• bourgeon

3

as in to stop

to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end

drop what you're doing and come here

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stop
• halt
• cease
• end
• quit
• delay
• suspend
• break
• cut off
• lay off
• shut off
• discontinue
• finish
• cut out
• leave off
• can
• conclude
• break off
• break up
• pack (up or in)
• check
• have done with
• desist (from)
• give over
• knock off
• complete
• hold
• pause
• block
• put the kibosh on
• ruin
• close (down)
• stem
• stay
• suppress
• deactivate
• hold back
• hinder
• impede
• destroy
• scuttle
• call
• abort
• brake
• turn back
• dissolve
• obstruct
• kill
• dam
• detain
• squelch
• stamp
• arrest
• abolish
• rein (in)
• squash
• clamp down
• blockade
• stunt
• snuff
• demolish
• staunch
• annul
• stanch
• kibosh

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continue
• carry on
• run on
• keep up
• proceed
• advance
• progress
• drive
• stir
• follow through (with)
• propel
• actuate
• impel

4

as in to abandon

to stop doing (something) permanently

isn't it time you dropped that smoking habit and spent your money on better things?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abandon
• discontinue
• quit
• end
• have done (with)
• finish
• lay off (of)
• pack (up or in)
• give up
• cease
• hang it up
• halt
• conclude
• close
• shut off
• pause
• knock off
• break off
• expire
• throw up
• break up
• leave off
• taper off
• terminate
• wind up
• wrap up
• round (off or out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continue
• keep
• maintain
• go
• carry on
• keep up
• run on
• persist
• hold on
• stay
• resume
• hang on
• start
• preserve
• reopen
• renew
• hang in
• begin
• persevere
• commence
• restart
• follow through (with)

5

as in to fall

to lead or extend downward

the cable car tracks can drop suddenly, so be sure to hang onto something

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plunge
• fall
• descend
• slope
• sink
• dip
• decline
• tilt
• lean
• tip
• heel
• angle
• incline
• cant
• list
• slant
• cock
• recline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• climb
• arise
• ascend
• mount
• plane
• upturn
• flatten
• straighten
• even
• level
• uprise
• upsweep
• smooth

6

as in to cancel

to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to)

drop that plan in favor of another

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cancel
• abandon
• scrap
• revoke
• abort
• repeal
• scrub
• withdraw
• rescind
• call off
• recall
• call
• halt
• suspend
• reverse
• terminate
• cry off
• end
• retract
• stop
• invalidate
• take back
• nullify
• write off
• interrupt
• roll back
• discontinue
• abrogate
• annul
• void
• relinquish
• recant
• break off
• hold back
• surrender
• give up
• countermand

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continue
• keep
• engage
• start
• begin
• initiate
• pledge
• promise
• undertake
• take up
• commence
• take on

7

as in to produce

to bring forth from the womb

the cow dropped her calf early this morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

• produce
• have
• deliver
• mother
• birth
• bear
• give birth to
• get
• generate
• spawn
• reproduce
• propagate
• labor
• breed
• multiply
• beget
• sire
• father
• litter
• kid
• kindle
• calve
• kitten
• pup
• whelp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose
• abort
• miscarry

8

as in to down

to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall

dropped the would-be mugger in his tracks with a single well-aimed blow

Synonyms & Similar Words

• down
• fell
• hit
• topple
• smack
• slap
• floor
• knock over
• mow (down)
• punch
• knock down
• level
• bang
• slam
• pound
• knock out
• bowl (down or over)
• thump
• prostrate
• overthrow
• whack
• throw down
• poke
• jab
• paste
• swipe
• slug
• smite
• swat
• sock
• hammer
• clobber
• KO
• bludgeon
• bash
• belt
• kayo
• thwack
• whale
• wallop
• slog

9

as in to lose

to fail to win, gain, or obtain

the local hockey team has dropped two out of the last three contests

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lose
• forfeit

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• win
• prevail (over)
• nail (down)
• triumph (over)
• conquer

10

as in to drip

to fall or let fall in or as if in drops

the cold glass dropped condensation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drip
• flow
• pour
• trickle
• sprinkle
• distill
• dribble
• stream
• distil
• roll
• drizzle
• ripple
• run
• cascade
• bleed
• seep
• weep
• ooze
• exude
• discharge
• gutter
• riffle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• spurt
• spout
• gush

11

as in to pay

to hand over or use up in payment

I dropped $50 on these shoes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pay
• spend
• give
• disburse
• lay out
• expend
• shell out
• outlay
• fork (over, out, or up)
• rain
• throw away
• waste
• lavish
• blow
• run through
• dissipate
• squander
• fritter (away)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• save
• make
• gain
• win
• acquire
• lay up
• earn
• secure
• realize
• hoard
• procure
• cache
• garner

12

as in to mention

to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically

he would ever so "casually" drop the names of celebrities he knew personally

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mention
• specify
• notice
• cite
• indicate
• note
• quote
• instance
• touch (on or upon)
• suggest
• introduce
• refer (to)
• name
• explain
• advert (to)
• announce
• imply
• publish
• intend
• infer
• clarify
• point (out)
• signal
• allude (to)
• signify
• designate
• pronounce
• hint (at)
• advertise
• declare
• proclaim
• interject
• worm
• spell out
• bring up
• interpolate
• intimate
• denominate
• infiltrate
• publicize
• clear (up)
• broadcast
• broach
• elucidate
• sound
• insinuate
• interpose
• explicate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• forget
• slight
• ignore
• pass over
• disregard
• neglect
• overlook
• overpass

13

as in to reduce

to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent

with these icy road conditions, drivers should be dropping their speed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reduce
• decrease
• lower
• deplete
• diminish
• minimize
• ease
• slash
• downsize
• dent
• dwindle
• lessen
• cut
• knock down
• abate
• compress
• shrink
• shorten
• downscale
• pare
• cut down
• cut back
• dock
• truncate
• trim
• de-escalate
• clip
• curtail
• nick
• prune
• modify
• whittle
• crop
• condense
• retrench
• contract
• constrict
• abbreviate
• moderate
• modulate
• deflate
• abridge
• qualify

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• raise
• expand
• boost
• augment
• enlarge
• escalate
• amplify
• swell
• extend
• blow up
• inflate
• add (to)
• prolong
• dilate
• supplement
• lengthen
• complement
• elongate
• enhance
• intensify
• aggrandize
• heighten
• distend
• protract
• redouble

14

as in to die

to stop living

during the Black Death people all over Asia and Europe were dropping like flies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• die
• fall
• perish
• go
• disappear
• succumb
• pass (on)
• depart
• end
• check out
• buy it
• exit
• pass away
• demise
• step out
• expire
• fade
• part
• kick in
• kick off
• croak
• snuff it
• buy the farm
• pop off
• bite the dust
• peg out
• decease
• kick the bucket
• give up the ghost
• flatline
• fail
• conk (out)
• consume
• dry up
• predecease

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• live
• come to
• breathe
• revive
• be
• exist
• linger
• thrive
• flourish
• subsist
• prosper

drop

2 of 4

noun (1)

ˈdräp 

1

as in bead

the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass

a drop of water fell from the leaky faucet every few seconds

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bead
• drip
• droplet
• glob
• trickle
• globule
• tear
• blob
• driblet
• raindrop
• spatter
• gobbet
• dribble
• dewdrop
• teardrop

2

as in depth

distance measured from the top to the bottom of something

a drop of 10 feet from the roof to the ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

• depth
• deepness
• sounding
• draft
• lowness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• height
• elevation
• altitude
• stature
• shallowness

3

as in dip

the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude

the sudden drop of the plane really shook up the passengers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dip
• decline
• fall
• plunge
• descent
• down
• dive
• nosedive
• sinking
• downgrade
• plummeting
• downfall
• comedown

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• climb
• soaring
• advance
• progress
• ascent
• upturn
• progression
• improvement
• upswing
• rising
• headway
• betterment

4

as in decrease

the amount by which something is lessened

a huge drop in pressure

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decrease
• reduction
• decline
• dent
• depletion
• loss
• fall
• shrinkage
• decrement
• diminution
• slump
• drop-off
• falloff
• depression
• abatement
• diminishment
• step-down
• cut
• slip
• subtraction
• deduction
• downturn
• cutback
• shortening
• curtailment
• retrenchment

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• rise
• gain
• raise
• increment
• boost
• addition
• enlargement
• accumulation
• supplement
• extension
• continuation
• step-up
• uptick
• accretion
• accrual
• upturn
• upswing
• uptrend

5

as in advantage

the more favorable condition or position in a competition

got the drop on his opponent very early in the wrestling match

Synonyms & Similar Words

• advantage
• edge
• jump
• opportunity
• pull
• stead
• odds
• start
• bulge
• whip hand
• upper hand
• vantage
• high ground
• better
• inside track
• lead
• coign of vantage
• margin
• privilege
• superiority
• catbird seat
• allowance
• benefit
• ascendency
• head start
• dominance
• ascendancy
• transcendence
• predominance
• leg up
• precedence
• prerogative
• mastery
• foothold
• preference
• break
• supremacy
• seniority
• windfall
• command
• transcendency
• godsend
• blessing
• manna
• boon
• felicity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strike
• penalty
• minus
• disadvantage
• liability
• drawback
• handicap
• detriment
• let
• failing
• imbalance
• disparity
• inequality
• catch
• stop
• disability
• check
• impairment
• interference
• bar
• stranglehold
• rub
• hitch
• shortcoming
• obstacle
• obstruction
• embarrassment
• hurdle
• hindrance
• impediment
• unevenness
• setback
• shackle
• clog
• lurch
• crimp
• trammel
• manacle

drop (off)

3 of 4

verb (2)

as in to decrease

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

my interest in photography has dropped off over the years

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decrease
• diminish
• subside
• die (away or down or out)
• fall
• decline
• fall away
• taper off
• drain (away)
• ease
• vanish
• shrink
• taper
• ebb
• let up
• ratchet (down)
• rachet (down)
• phase down
• moderate
• recede
• lessen
• wane
• tail (off)
• dwindle
• pall
• lower
• relent
• remit
• fade (away)
• weaken
• slow (down)
• abate
• melt (away)
• evaporate
• de-escalate
• compress
• peter (out)
• collapse
• give out
• fritter (away)
• alleviate
• relax
• contract
• cave (in)
• condense
• constrict
• slacken
• sink
• flag
• deflate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• build
• rise
• grow
• pick up
• expand
• accumulate
• intensify
• enlarge
• escalate
• swell
• mount
• soar
• wax
• appear
• snowball
• show up
• mushroom
• emerge
• balloon
• blow up
• bourgeon
• burgeon
• elongate
• lengthen
• distend

drop-off

4 of 4

noun (2)

ˈdräp-ˌȯf 

as in reduction

the amount by which something is lessened

the drop-off in movie attendance was the greatest in more than a decade

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decrease
• reduction
• drop
• decline
• dent
• depletion
• shrinkage
• loss
• diminution
• falloff
• depression
• slump
• abatement
• fall
• decrement
• diminishment
• step-down
• subtraction
• deduction
• downturn
• slip
• cut
• curtailment
• cutback
• shortening
• retrenchment

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• rise
• gain
• increment
• enlargement
• addition
• boost
• raise
• accumulation
• extension
• uptick
• supplement
• continuation
• accretion
• step-up
• accrual
• upturn
• upswing
• uptrend

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of drop

Verb

Defense: ‘Two people, two weapons’ Since last month’s hearing in the high-profile case, Hippler has made several consequential evidence rulings, and two others over whether to drop the death penalty as a sentencing option. —Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 14 May 2025

The original justification for dropping HBO from HBO Max was to signal a something-for-everyone content cornucopia. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 14 May 2025

Noun

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index is down 11% this year, compared to the 3.7% drop of the S&P 500. —Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025

There's no evidence whatsoever that was a single drop of blood on Alex Murdoch. —Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2025

Noun

Tariffs are expected to substantially deepen the drop-off by sapping consumers’ buying power. —George Petras, USA Today, 1 May 2025

Join 428 others in the comments View Comments A separate report released Wednesday showed a precipitous drop-off in hiring by businesses in the US private sector, which doesn’t bode well for economic growth in the future. —Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025

Phrases Containing drop

• drop (off)
• drop a dime (on)
• drop back
• drop behind
• drop by
• drop in
• drop in (on)
• drop in the bucket
• drop out of sight
• drop the ball