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

Lee figures to be the primary shortstop in Correa’s absence, which could lead to a drop-off there and at second base, where Lee had been playing. —Aaron Gleeman, New York Times, 19 May 2025

The project’s exterior includes rooftop solar panels, as well as an outdoor workspace, entry plaza, drop-off areas and landscaping. —Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 16 May 2025

Verb

The glitzy pump was launched in 2006 and sold five million pairs in just seven years, before appetite for slim, dainty shoes dropped off in the mid-to-late 2010s. —Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 24 May 2025

Police officers, firefighters and service members hustled to unload carloads of diapers, car seats, clothes, toys, books and toiletries that residents had dropped off. —Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1812, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for drop-off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff