fallfall1 /fɔl/ ●●● verb (past tense fell /fɛl/ , past participle fallen /ˈfɔlən/ ) 
1
MOVE DOWNWARD [intransitive] to drop down toward the ground: 
Snow began to fall. Apples had fallen from the trees. A large tree fell down during the storm.2STOP STANDING/WALKING, ETC. [intransitive] to accidentally go down onto the ground when you are standing, walking, etc.: Don’t worry, I’ll catch you if you fall. She fell down the stairs. Sam tripped and fell into a ditch.THESAURUStrip – to hit your foot against something, so that you fall or nearly fall: Be careful not to trip on that step.slip – to slide on something that is wet or icy, so that you fall or nearly fall: She slipped on the ice and broke her leg.stumble – to put your foot down in an awkward way, so that you nearly fall: She stumbled backwards and hit her head on the bed.lose your balance – to fall, for example, when you are climbing or riding a bicycle: He was walking on the top of the fence when he lost his balance.3LOWER LEVEL/AMOUNT [intransitive] to go down to a lower level or amount ANT rise: Temperatures should fall below zero tonight. The number of traffic deaths fell by 10% last year. The unemployment rate fell to 4.8%.THESAURUSdecrease, go down, drop, plummet, diminish, decline, dwindle► see thesaurus at decrease14BECOME [intransitive, linking verb] to begin to be in a new or different state: I fell asleep at 8:30. Your father and I fell in love when we were in college. Everyone fell silent as Beth walked in. The house fell into disrepair.5GROUP [intransitive] to be part of a particular group: Most of his novels fall into the science fiction category. The program falls under the authority of the Department of Education.6fall into place if things fall into place, they become clear or start to happen as you want7HAPPEN [intransitive] to happen on a particular day or date: Christmas falls on a Monday this year.8LIGHT/DARKNESS [intransitive] if light or darkness falls, it makes something brighter or darker: Darkness/Night fell on the city. A shadow fell across his face.9HANG DOWN [intransitive] to hang loosely: Maria’s hair fell over her shoulders.10fall short (of something) to be less than is needed or less than you want: Her newest book fell short of my expectations.11FACE [intransitive] if your face falls, you suddenly look sad or disappointed12fall flat to fail to amuse or interest people: His attempt at humor fell flat.13DIE [intransitive] written to be killed in a war14LOSE POWER [intransitive] social studies, politics to lose power: The regime fell from power soon after the invasion.[Origin: Old English feallan]fall apart phrasal verb1to separate into many pieces: The old book fell apart in my hands.2to stop being effective or successful: The economy was falling apart.3to be unable to deal with your personal or emotional problems: When Pam left, I thought I was going to fall apart.fall back on phrasal verb to use something or someone after other things or plans have failed: Athletes need an education to fall back on.fall behind phrasal verb to make progress more slowly than other people or than you should: The older walkers soon fell behind. The manufacturers have fallen behind schedule.fall for phrasal verb1to be tricked into believing something that is not true: He said he was a police officer and I almost fell for it.2to start to love someone: Samantha fell for a man half her age.fall off phrasal verb1if part of something falls off, it becomes separated from the main part: The buttons keep falling off this shirt.2to decrease: The demand for cassette tapes has fallen off.fall out phrasal verb1if a tooth or your hair falls out, it is no longer attached to your body2to argue or fight with someone: Walker recently fell out with his publisher.fall over phrasal verb to fall to the ground or to fall from an upright position: She fell over and cut her knee. The Christmas tree fell over.fall through phrasal verb to fail to happen or be completed: The deal fell through at the last minute.
1MOVE DOWNWARD [intransitive] to drop down toward the ground: Snow began to fall. Apples had fallen from the trees. A large tree fell down during the storm.2STOP STANDING/WALKING, ETC. [intransitive] to accidentally go down onto the ground when you are standing, walking, etc.: Don’t worry, I’ll catch you if you fall. She fell down the stairs. Sam tripped and fell into a ditch.THESAURUStrip – to hit your foot against something, so that you fall or nearly fall: Be careful not to trip on that step.slip – to slide on something that is wet or icy, so that you fall or nearly fall: She slipped on the ice and broke her leg.stumble – to put your foot down in an awkward way, so that you nearly fall: She stumbled backwards and hit her head on the bed.lose your balance – to fall, for example, when you are climbing or riding a bicycle: He was walking on the top of the fence when he lost his balance.3LOWER LEVEL/AMOUNT [intransitive] to go down to a lower level or amount ANT rise: Temperatures should fall below zero tonight. The number of traffic deaths fell by 10% last year. The unemployment rate fell to 4.8%.THESAURUSdecrease, go down, drop, plummet, diminish, decline, dwindle► see thesaurus at decrease14BECOME [intransitive, linking verb] to begin to be in a new or different state: I fell asleep at 8:30. Your father and I fell in love when we were in college. Everyone fell silent as Beth walked in. The house fell into disrepair.5GROUP [intransitive] to be part of a particular group: Most of his novels fall into the science fiction category. The program falls under the authority of the Department of Education.6fall into place if things fall into place, they become clear or start to happen as you want7HAPPEN [intransitive] to happen on a particular day or date: Christmas falls on a Monday this year.8LIGHT/DARKNESS [intransitive] if light or darkness falls, it makes something brighter or darker: Darkness/Night fell on the city. A shadow fell across his face.9HANG DOWN [intransitive] to hang loosely: Maria’s hair fell over her shoulders.10fall short (of something) to be less than is needed or less than you want: Her newest book fell short of my expectations.11FACE [intransitive] if your face falls, you suddenly look sad or disappointed12fall flat to fail to amuse or interest people: His attempt at humor fell flat.13DIE [intransitive] written to be killed in a war14LOSE POWER [intransitive] social studies, politics to lose power: The regime fell from power soon after the invasion.[Origin: Old English feallan]fall apart phrasal verb1to separate into many pieces: The old book fell apart in my hands.2to stop being effective or successful: The economy was falling apart.3to be unable to deal with your personal or emotional problems: When Pam left, I thought I was going to fall apart.fall back on phrasal verb to use something or someone after other things or plans have failed: Athletes need an education to fall back on.fall behind phrasal verb to make progress more slowly than other people or than you should: The older walkers soon fell behind. The manufacturers have fallen behind schedule.fall for phrasal verb1to be tricked into believing something that is not true: He said he was a police officer and I almost fell for it.2to start to love someone: Samantha fell for a man half her age.fall off phrasal verb1if part of something falls off, it becomes separated from the main part: The buttons keep falling off this shirt.2to decrease: The demand for cassette tapes has fallen off.fall out phrasal verb1if a tooth or your hair falls out, it is no longer attached to your body2to argue or fight with someone: Walker recently fell out with his publisher.fall over phrasal verb to fall to the ground or to fall from an upright position: She fell over and cut her knee. The Christmas tree fell over.fall through phrasal verb to fail to happen or be completed: The deal fell through at the last minute.
