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

Supreme Court upheld restrictions on ballot drop boxes, after the state enacted new limitations saying people dropping off ballots for voters with disabilities have to go into an election office rather than leaving the ballot in a drop box. —Alison Durkee, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Yet, on his 34th birthday his sister, the fan favorite Alex Russo (Gomez), unexpectedly drops off Billie (Jannice LeAnn Brown), a rebellious 12-year-old wizard in need of a mentor, in his care. —Emiliana Betancourt, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1812, in the meaning defined above