fall
To move downwards from a higher position to a lower one, usually by accident or without control. It is also used to describe a decrease in amount, number, or intensity.
Examples
3 of 5Be careful when you walk on the ice so you do not fall.
Be careful when you walk on the ice so you do not fall.
The temperature is expected to fall significantly during the night.
The temperature is expected to fall significantly during the night.
I saw him fall off his bike, but he is okay.
I saw him fall off his bike, but he is okay.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Imagine a leaf 'falling' from a tree during the 'fall' season.
Quick Quiz
If you are not careful on the stairs, you might ____.
Correct!
The correct answer is: fall
Examples
Be careful when you walk on the ice so you do not fall.
everydayBe careful when you walk on the ice so you do not fall.
The temperature is expected to fall significantly during the night.
formalThe temperature is expected to fall significantly during the night.
I saw him fall off his bike, but he is okay.
informalI saw him fall off his bike, but he is okay.
The research shows that literacy rates may fall without proper funding.
academicThe research shows that literacy rates may fall without proper funding.
Our company profits began to fall in the second quarter of the year.
businessOur company profits began to fall in the second quarter of the year.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
fall behind schedule
fall behind schedule
fall on deaf ears
fall on deaf ears
fall apart
fall apart
Often Confused With
Fell is the past tense of fall, but it is also a separate verb meaning to cut down a tree.
Feel relates to touch or emotion, while fall relates to moving downwards.
Usage Notes
Use 'fall' to describe movement towards the ground or a reduction in value. In American English, 'fall' is also the word used for the season between summer and winter.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget that 'fall' is an irregular verb (fall, fell, fallen) and incorrectly use 'falled'.
Memory Tip
Imagine a leaf 'falling' from a tree during the 'fall' season.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old English word 'feallan', meaning to drop from a height or die.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In the United States and Canada, 'fall' is the primary term for the season known as 'autumn' in the UK.
Quick Quiz
If you are not careful on the stairs, you might ____.
Correct!
The correct answer is: fall
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
people
A1People refers to a group of human beings or the general public. It is the standard plural form of the word 'person'.
put
A1To move something into a particular place or position. It is a fundamental verb used to describe the act of placing an object or setting a situation in a specific location.
mean
A1To have a specific sense or significance, especially when explaining a word or sign. It can also describe a person's intention or the importance of something to someone.
keep
A1To continue to have or hold something in your possession or at your disposal. It also means to remain in a specific state, condition, or position without changing.
begin
A1To start doing something or for an event to happen for the first time. It is often used to describe the first point of a process or activity.
seem
A1To give the impression of being something or having a particular quality based on what you see or hear. It is used to describe an appearance or feeling that may or may not be the actual truth.
help
A1To make it easier for someone to do something by offering your services, resources, or support. It can involve physical effort, providing information, or giving money to assist a person or a cause.
talk
A1To speak in order to give information or express ideas, feelings, or thoughts. It typically involves a conversation between two or more people or a person addressing an audience.
start
A1To begin doing something or to cause something to happen for the first time. It is frequently used when talking about movements, journeys, or making a machine or engine begin to work.
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