drop-off

1 of 2

noun

ˈdräp-ˌȯf 

1

: a very steep or perpendicular descent

2

: a marked dwindling or decline

a drop-off in attendance

3

: the act or an instance of making a usually brief deposit or delivery

drop-off points along the route

drop off

2 of 2

verb

ˌdräp-ˈȯf 

dropped off; dropping off; drops off

intransitive verb

: to fall asleep

Synonyms

Noun

• abatement
• decline
• decrease
• decrement
• dent
• depletion
• depression
• diminishment
• diminution
• drop
• fall
• falloff
• loss
• reduction
• shrinkage
• step-down

Examples of drop-off in a Sentence

Noun

the drop-off in movie attendance was the greatest in more than a decade

Verb

my interest in photography has dropped off over the years

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Those who choose to vote by mail can still drop a ballot off at a drop-off location or voting location by Nov. 5. —Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024

Dropping off a ballot on election day Ballots may be personally delivered to any ballot drop-off box or polling place in the state. —Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

In the days after the election, workers will process and tally early ballots dropped off immediately before and on Election Day. —Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024

Vittoria Elliott 21 minutes ago From Northampton, PA: Outside the courthouse in Northampton County, where people are trickling in to drop off their mail in ballots in the secure dropbox inside. —WIRED, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1812, in the meaning defined above