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

The Cook Medical plant treats tens of thousands of pounds of ethylene oxide every year, but the facility’s emissions and discharges of the toxic chemical have dropped drastically since 2019, according to EPA data. —Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 25 July 2025

As a result, vaccination rates have dropped, and some communities are no longer protected by herd immunity, the threshold of vaccination required to prevent certain infectious diseases from easily spreading. —Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 25 July 2025

Noun

As the drop begins to dry, water at the edges evaporates more quickly since that area is thinner. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2025

In the next game, Williams sprinted forward to reach a drop shot and replied with a winner. —Howard Fendrich, Baltimore Sun, 23 July 2025

Noun

Either way, there's never a drop-off in artists willing to indulge in their traditional country roots onstage. —Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 26 July 2025

Sometimes, that’s best brought to life with a video of customers talking, or showing an experience visually in terms of where the drop-off is happening in a funnel, and comparing it to a prior period or trends that make the point in a very visual way. —Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 16 July 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