fall

To move down through the air because nothing is holding you or keeping you up.

• Leaves fall from the trees.
• The glass fell off the shelf.
• Did anyone see the child fall?

How to use it: fall from something (A branch fell from the tree.); fall off something (The cup fell off the table.); fall onto something (Snow fell onto the roof.)

Similar words: drop

Opposites: rise

Common phrases: fall from something, fall to earth, fall off something

To begin to be in a particular state, often an unpleasant one.

• The baby fell asleep.
• He fell ill during the trip.
• Everyone falls silent when the music starts.

How to use it: fall + adjective (The room fell silent when she entered.); fall into something (The old building fell into disuse.)

Similar words: become, get

Common phrases: fall asleep, fall ill, fall silent

To lose power or be defeated, especially in a war.

• The government could fall soon.
• The city fell after a long siege.
• Several strong teams have fallen to weaker opponents.

How to use it: fall to someone (The city fell to the invading army.)

Similar words: be defeated, collapse

Common phrases: fall to someone, fall in battle, government may fall

To deliberately drop to the ground, often to beg or show respect.

• He fell to his knees.
• The worshippers fell on their faces in prayer.
• She fell at his feet and begged for help.

How to use it: fall to your knees (He fell to his knees and begged her to stay.); fall at someone’s feet (She fell at the king’s feet.)

Similar words: prostrate yourself

Common phrases: fall to earth, fall before someone, fall on knees

To die, especially while fighting in a war.

• Many soldiers fell in battle.
• The memorial names those who fell defending the town.
• They gathered to honor the men who had fallen.

How to use it: fall in something (Many young soldiers fell in the war.)

Similar words: die, perish

Common phrases: fall in battle, fall for something, those who fall

The season after summer and before winter, when leaves often change color and drop from trees.

• School starts in the fall.
• We visited Canada last fall.
• The park is beautiful when the fall colors appear.

Similar words: autumn

Common phrases: in the fall, last fall, fall colors

An event in which someone or something moves down through the air or lands on the ground.

• She had a nasty fall.
• The soft grass broke his fall.
• A fall from that height could be dangerous.

How to use it: a fall from something (He survived a fall from a ladder.)

Similar words: drop

Common phrases: a nasty fall, fall from something, break someone’s fall

The loss of power, success, or an important position.

• The scandal caused his fall.
• We studied the fall of the Roman Empire.
• Her fall from power surprised everyone.

How to use it: the fall of someone/something (The scandal led to the fall of the government.); a fall from something (The article describes his fall from power.)

Similar words: downfall, collapse

Opposites: rise

Common phrases: fall of something, rise and fall, someone’s sudden fall