falling Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. verb descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
   fall.
   
   • The branch fell from the tree
   • The unfortunate hiker fell into a crevasse
2. verb move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
   go down; descend; come down; fall.
   
   • The temperature is going down
   • The barometer is falling
   • The curtain fell on the diva
   • Her hand went up and then fell again
3. verb pass suddenly and passively into a state of body or mind
   fall.
   
   • fall into a trap
   • She fell ill
   • They fell out of favor
   • Fall in love
   • fall asleep
   • fall prey to an imposter
   • fall into a strange way of thinking
   • she fell to pieces after she lost her work
4. verb come under, be classified or included
   come; fall.
   
   • fall into a category
   • This comes under a new heading
5. verb fall from clouds
   precipitate; come down; fall.
   
   • rain, snow and sleet were falling
   • Vesuvius precipitated its fiery, destructive rage on Herculaneum
6. verb suffer defeat, failure, or ruin
   fall.
   
   • We must stand or fall
   • fall by the wayside
7. verb die, as in battle or in a hunt
   fall.
   
   • Many soldiers fell at Verdun
   • Several deer have fallen to the same gun
   • The shooting victim fell dead
8. verb touch or seem as if touching visually or audibly
   shine; strike; fall.
   
   • Light fell on her face
   • The sun shone on the fields
   • The light struck the golden necklace
   • A strange sound struck my ears
9. verb be captured
   fall.
   
   • The cities fell to the enemy
10. verb occur at a specified time or place
    fall.
    
    • Christmas falls on a Monday this year
    • The accent falls on the first syllable
11. verb decrease in size, extent, or range
    diminish; fall; decrease; lessen.
    
    • The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester
    • The cabin pressure fell dramatically
    • her weight fell to under a hundred pounds
    • his voice fell to a whisper
12. verb yield to temptation or sin
    fall.
    
    • Adam and Eve fell
13. verb lose office or power
    fall.
    
    • The government fell overnight
    • The Qing Dynasty fell with Sun Yat-sen
14. verb to be given by assignment or distribution
    fall.
    
    • The most difficult task fell on the youngest member of the team
    • The onus fell on us
    • The pressure to succeed fell on the youngest student
15. verb move in a specified direction
    fall.
    
    • The line of men fall forward
16. verb be due
    fall.
    
    • payments fall on the 1st of the month
17. verb lose one's chastity
    fall.
    
    • a fallen woman
18. verb to be given by right or inheritance
    fall.
    
    • The estate fell to the oldest daughter
19. verb come into the possession of
    fall; accrue.
    
    • The house accrued to the oldest son
20. verb fall to somebody by assignment or lot
    light; fall.
    
    • The task fell to me
    • It fell to me to notify the parents of the victims
21. verb be inherited by
    devolve; pass; return; fall.
    
    • The estate fell to my sister
    • The land returned to the family
    • The estate devolved to an heir that everybody had assumed to be dead
22. verb slope downward
    fall.
    
    • The hills around here fall towards the ocean
23. verb lose an upright position suddenly
    fall down; fall.
    
    • The vase fell over and the water spilled onto the table
    • Her hair fell across her forehead
24. verb drop oneself to a lower or less erect position
    fall.
    
    • She fell back in her chair
    • He fell to his knees
25. verb fall or flow in a certain way
    flow; hang; fall.
    
    • This dress hangs well
    • Her long black hair flowed down her back
26. verb assume a disappointed or sad expression
    fall.
    
    • Her face fell when she heard that she would be laid off
    • his crest fell
27. verb be cast down
    fall.
    
    • his eyes fell
28. verb come out; issue
    fall.
    
    • silly phrases fell from her mouth
29. verb be born, used chiefly of lambs
    fall.
    
    • The lambs fell in the afternoon
30. verb begin vigorously
    fall.
    
    • The prisoners fell to work right away
31. verb go as if by falling
    fall.
    
    • Grief fell from our hearts
32. verb come as if by falling
    settle; descend; fall.
    
    • Night fell
    • Silence fell
33. adjective satellite decreasing in amount or degree
    
    • falling temperature
34. adjective becoming lower or less in degree or value
    
    • a falling market
    • falling incomes
35. adjective satellite coming down freely under the influence of gravity
    dropping.
    
    • the eerie whistle of dropping bombs
    • falling rain

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