fall 1 of 2

verb

ˈfȯl How to pronounce fall (audio)
Definition of fallnext
1
as in to stumble
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily better sand that walkway before somebody falls on the ice

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2
as in to succumb
to yield to the control or power of enemy forces the city fell after weeks of merciless bombardment

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3
as in to plunge
to go to a lower level especially abruptly word soon got out that the movie was no good, and box-office receipts fell like a rock

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4
as in to decrease
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually manufacturing in the area is falling, and closing signs are going up all over

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5
as in to descend
to lead or extend downward the lake bottom falls sharply just a few feet from the shoreline, so be careful

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6
as in to lose
to undergo defeat not surprisingly, the novice player fell to a much stronger opponent

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7
as in to trespass
to commit an offense even saints can fall

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8
as in to die
to stop living if their brave leader falls, the men will lose their courage

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fall

2 of 2

noun

1
as in tumble
the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily a bad fall that resulted in several broken bones

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2
as in decline
a change to a lower state or level last night's record fall in temperature was a sure sign that winter's coming, like it or not

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3
as in demise
a loss of status being sent back to the minor leagues was quite a fall for the once-promising pitcher

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4
as in drop
the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude panicked during his first unassisted fall when his parachute's rip cord didn't respond to the first tug

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5
as in decrease
the amount by which something is lessened that year the fall in prices was 10 cents for a gallon of regular gas

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6
as in waterfall
usually falls plural a fall of water usually from a great height tourists were shocked to see a man jump into the water and go over the falls

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7
as in downhill
a downward slope the sharp fall of the land sends rivers rushing to the seas

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of fall
Verb
Or toggle the switch to Night Mode, and the light will come on automatically whenever its sensor detects night has fallen. —Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2025 Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
Native shrubs perfect for fall Chokeberry Chokeberry features crimson or orange leaves in autumn, with red berries that can persist through winter. —Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Sep. 2025 Binge the autumn episodes or watch the whole thing again for the millionth time to enjoy a fictional fall getaway. —Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fall
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fall
  1. stumble
  2. succumb
  3. plunge
  4. decrease
  5. descend
  6. lose
  7. trespass
  8. die
Verb
  • Closer Bryan Abreu stumbled but has earned the benefit of the doubt with the dominance he’s displayed.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Exposure to harmful content is another risk as studies show that teens are more likely than adults to stumble upon self-harm imagery or extremist propaganda.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • Facio, who also was hospitalized, succumbed to his injuries on June 8 — six days after he was shot in the face.
    — Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • The men in green were dominated from the start and eventually succumbed to the pressure, unable to even cross the 100-run mark.
    — Paras J. Haji, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Definition of succumb
Verb
  • The design featured a plunging V-neck design that stopped at her navel, a skirt decorated in fringe and floral appliqués placed throughout.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The graft and fraud investigations signal that state corruption which helped plunge Greece into a 2009-2018 debt crisis persists, despite reforms and tough austerity under three international bailouts.
    — Angeliki Koutantou, Reuters, 7 Sep. 2025
Definition of plunge
Verb
  • This risk decreases as the storm moves away.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2025
  • As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • Journalists and television crews from around the world descended on the town of Morwell when the trial began in April, with millions of Australians following proceedings live through one of several popular daily podcasts.
    — Alasdair Pal, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings descend down to the shores of Lake Michigan, where Caleb Williams’ Chicago Bears await.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of descend
Verb
  • Ayman Soliman, a former hospital chaplain, has been detained by immigration authorities since July after losing his asylum status.
    — Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Definition of lose
Verb
  • Come prepared with water, food, and rope, and take extra care not to trespass by staying in the riverbed.
    — Eva Frederick, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
  • There were, after all, the men who trespassed, as if my young body was theirs to forage.
    — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Definition of trespass
Verb
  • Good Fortune follows Reeves as an angel, Gabriel, tasked by his boss, Martha (Sandra Oh), with stopping humans from dying while texting and driving.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The fact that babies and toddlers continue to die from ingesting fentanyl will likely come up in a meeting next month.
    — Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
Definition of die

Phrases Containing fall

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falconers
fall
fallacies
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Cite this Entry

“Fall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fall. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fall

Nglish: Translation of fall for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fall

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