fall 1 of 3

verb (1)

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 3

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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fall (to)

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to begin
to take the first step in (a process or course of action) after some refreshments, she fell to working with renewed vigor

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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
The series has 12 wins to date, all of them in the Creative Arts Emmy categories where today’s nominations fall too. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 8 July 2026 This is particularly true lately, as auto loan refinance rates have been falling at a faster pace than rates for original auto loans, making the potential savings that much more notable. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 8 July 2026
Noun
At Emory University in Atlanta this fall, undergraduate students whose families earn $200,000 or less will pay no tuition. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 8 July 2026 But efforts in the greater Charlotte area have been snowballing since last fall, with Cornelius overhauling its ordinance in November and Waxhaw and Davidson following suit in February. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026 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
  • After a chance meeting saving the life of a reporter, Dez stumbles across a vast conspiracy and now must stop the forces intent on keeping their secrets safe.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 6 July 2026
  • The hole was discovered in early April when a volunteer on a weekend cemetery clean-up day stumbled upon it.
    — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • One boy, 12, succumbed to the heat and passed out, with EMS medics and police rushing to help him, according to PIX 11.
    — Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026
  • On Thursday at Wimbledon, a couple of players were unable to do so, succumbing to Nadal’s Law.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of succumb
Verb
  • Riyadh largely paused shipments from its Gulf export terminals of Ras Tanura and Juaymah on March 9 after tanker traffic through Hormuz plunged due to Iranian attacks.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • Even as the communist country proposes reforms, the United States continues a pressure campaign, ramping up economic sanctions and maintaining an oil embargo that has plunged much of the island into darkness.
    — Rick Jervis, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of plunge
Verb
  • Plus, new windows are more energy efficient than old ones, meaning a summer installation can decrease your energy bill now and when temperatures drop in the fall and winter.
    — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Doubles players fear for their tennis future after being told by the ATP Tour that prize money and tournament sizes will decrease significantly starting in 2028.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • Another witness said Lopez stood up twice as the aircraft began descending into Las Vegas, went to the restroom, then returned to his seat before suddenly launching the attack.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Around 1,000 attendees are expected to descend on Madison Square Garden over the next two days to celebrate the union of the music superstar and Super Bowl champion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Definition of descend
Verb
  • The Padres, meanwhile, have lost six straight and given up 66 runs over the last six days, the most in such a span in franchise history.
    — Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • But water also carries the potential for danger, and parents who have lost a child to drowning are begging families to use caution.
    — Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of lose
Verb
  • How the climbing couple got past security Prosecutors told the judge on July 2 that the defendants had trespassed overnight in the building before making the climb.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Instead of Cady as rapist, Cape Fear seems to be going for a general theme of Cady as violator, someone who is trespassing not singularly on a female body but on the Bowdens’ trustworthiness.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of trespass
Verb
  • That would give the planet more time to drift outward as the dying sun sheds its outer layers into space, potentially avoiding engulfment altogether.
    — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 8 July 2026
  • The obvious gem of the collection is the attention-getting title story, about the Canadian Nobel laureate Alice Munro, who died in 2024 — and whose complex, layered short fiction Aviv admires.
    — Julia M. Klein, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
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 Jul. 2026.

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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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