Phrase guide

fall off

noun · verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Alternative form of falloff.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To become detached or to drop from.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, transitive

Examples

  • A button fell off my coat.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: drop off

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To diminish in size, value, etc.; to get worse (in quality).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Business always falls off in the winter.
  • MC ___'s new album is wack - he's fallen off big-time.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: drop off

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To change the direction of a sail so as to point in a direction that is more down wind; to bring the bow leeward.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: nautical, transport

Examples

  • 1854, Benjamin Robbins Curtis, Lawrence v. Minturn, Opinion of the Court She would not mind her helm, but would fall off; she would settle down aft and take in water over her stern, and plunged heavily forward.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To fall into sin; to stray.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

diminish in size or intensity

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fall away

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: disappear, vanish, go away

7

verb

Meaning 7

fall heavily or suddenly; decline markedly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The real estate market fell off

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: slump, sink

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: drop

8

verb

Meaning 8

come off

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This button had fallen off

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: detach, come off, come away

History

Etymology

From fall + off; and also dissimilated from Middle English offallen (“to destroy, defeat, ruin, fail”), from Old English offeallan (“to fall upon, destroy”).

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: окапвам (okapvam) — To become detached or to drop from.
  • Khiamniungan Naga: thōk — To become detached or to drop from.
  • Old Tupi: kuî — To become detached or to drop from.
  • Polish: odpadać — To become detached or to drop from.
  • Polish: odpaść — To become detached or to drop from.
  • Portuguese: cair — To become detached or to drop from.
  • Spanish: caer — To become detached or to drop from.
  • Tamil: கழல் (kaḻal) — To become detached or to drop from.
  • Thai: หล่น (lòn) — To become detached or to drop from.
  • Thai: หลุด (lùt) — To become detached or to drop from.
  • Polish: spadać — To diminish in size, value, etc.
  • Polish: spaść — To diminish in size, value, etc.
  • Polish: maleć — To diminish in size, value, etc.
  • Polish: zmaleć — To diminish in size, value, etc.
  • Polish: zmniejszać się — To diminish in size, value, etc.
  • Polish: zmniejszyć się — To diminish in size, value, etc.
  • Portuguese: cair — To diminish in size, value, etc.
  • Romanian: decădea — To diminish in size, value, etc.
  • Spanish: caer — To diminish in size, value, etc.
  • Polish: ustawiać dziób po zawietrznej — To change the direction of the sail so as to point in a direction that is more down wind; to bring the bow leeward.
  • Polish: ustawić dziób po zawietrznej — To change the direction of the sail so as to point in a direction that is more down wind; to bring the bow leeward.