Synonyms of fall

fall 1 of 2

verb

ˈfȯl 

1

as in to stumble

to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily

better sand that walkway before somebody falls on the ice

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stumble
• trip
• slip
• tumble
• topple
• collapse
• slide
• crash
• drop
• plop
• skid
• plunge
• plummet
• crumple
• wipe out
• precipitate
• slump (over)
• plunk
• keel
• free-fall
• nose-dive
• flump
• plonk

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• stand (up)
• get up
• uprise

2

as in to succumb

to yield to the control or power of enemy forces

the city fell after weeks of merciless bombardment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• succumb
• surrender
• submit
• collapse
• capitulate
• give (in)
• give up
• knuckle under
• bow
• buckle
• relinquish
• cave (in)
• lose
• concede
• fold
• fail
• hand over

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stand
• endure
• fight
• resist
• oppose
• withstand
• win
• overcome
• defy
• beat
• prevail
• triumph
• repel
• buck
• conquer

3

as in to plunge

to go to a lower level especially abruptly

word soon got out that the movie was no good, and box-office receipts fell like a rock

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plunge
• tumble
• decline
• dip
• drop
• plummet
• sink
• descend
• decrease
• skid
• crash
• dive
• lower
• nose-dive
• die (down)
• retreat
• diminish
• subside
• crater
• droop
• dwindle
• moderate
• wane
• lessen
• ebb
• abate
• recede
• taper off
• let up
• de-escalate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• arise
• lift
• soar
• ascend
• mount
• spike
• up
• increase
• grow
• build
• expand
• swell
• accumulate
• intensify
• escalate
• pick up
• enlarge
• snowball
• mushroom
• balloon
• wax
• burgeon
• bourgeon

4

as in to decrease

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

manufacturing in the area is falling, and closing signs are going up all over

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decrease
• subside
• diminish
• decline
• vanish
• shrink
• ease
• fall away
• recede
• ebb
• drop (off)
• die (away or down or out)
• moderate
• wane
• dwindle
• drain (away)
• lessen
• lower
• taper
• pall
• taper off
• weaken
• remit
• relent
• evaporate
• abate
• let up
• collapse
• phase down
• rachet (down)
• ratchet (down)
• fade (away)
• compress
• relax
• tail (off)
• contract
• de-escalate
• slow (down)
• alleviate
• melt (away)
• constrict
• slacken
• condense
• give out
• sink
• peter (out)
• fritter (away)
• cave (in)
• deflate
• flag

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• increase
• grow
• build
• soar
• expand
• swell
• accumulate
• intensify
• escalate
• mount
• appear
• pick up
• enlarge
• snowball
• emerge
• mushroom
• balloon
• wax
• show up
• burgeon
• bourgeon
• lengthen
• blow up
• elongate
• distend

5

as in to descend

to lead or extend downward

the lake bottom falls sharply just a few feet from the shoreline, so be careful

Synonyms & Similar Words

• descend
• plunge
• slope
• sink
• drop
• dip
• decline
• lean
• tilt
• heel
• angle
• incline
• list
• tip
• cant
• recline
• slant
• cock

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• arise
• climb
• ascend
• mount
• plane
• upturn
• straighten
• uprise
• even
• flatten
• upsweep
• smooth
• level

6

as in to lose

to undergo defeat

not surprisingly, the novice player fell to a much stronger opponent

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lose
• falter
• throw
• bow out
• take the count
• fail
• miss
• collapse
• tank
• strike out
• flop
• forfeit
• crack (up)
• fold
• founder
• flunk
• wash out
• bomb

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• win
• prevail
• triumph
• succeed
• conquer
• thrive
• flourish
• prosper

7

as in to trespass

to commit an offense

even saints can fall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• trespass
• wander
• sin
• stray
• err
• offend
• fall from grace
• transgress
• violate
• break the law
• break
• breach
• lapse
• infringe
• backslide
• mess up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• justify
• forgive
• pardon
• regret
• repent
• rue

8

as in to die

to stop living

if their brave leader falls, the men will lose their courage

Synonyms & Similar Words

• die
• perish
• disappear
• succumb
• end
• go
• depart
• pass (on)
• expire
• demise
• fade
• buy it
• pass away
• check out
• drop
• exit
• step out
• part
• kick in
• kick off
• snuff it
• croak
• buy the farm
• decease
• peg out
• pop off
• bite the dust
• kick the bucket
• give up the ghost
• fail
• flatline
• conk (out)
• dry up
• consume
• predecease

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• live
• come to
• breathe
• revive
• be
• exist
• linger
• thrive
• flourish
• subsist
• prosper

fall

2 of 2

noun

1

as in tumble

the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily

a bad fall that resulted in several broken bones

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tumble
• stumble
• slip
• spill
• trip
• slide
• dive
• plunge
• skid
• header
• pratfall
• misstep
• descent
• free-fall

2

as in decline

a change to a lower state or level

last night's record fall in temperature was a sure sign that winter's coming, like it or not

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decline
• deterioration
• declination
• degradation
• descent
• downfall
• decadence
• decrease
• ebb
• eclipse
• drop
• destruction
• devolution
• degeneracy
• downgrade
• reduction
• degeneration
• declension
• decay
• dégringolade
• dip
• sunset
• dissolution
• breakup
• slump
• loss
• dark age
• crumbling
• decomposition
• disintegration
• rotting
• spoiling
• nadir
• slip
• sag
• lowering
• ruin
• depreciation
• downturn
• debasement
• demolition
• abasement
• havoc
• lessening
• deflation
• shrinkage
• falloff
• diminution
• ruination
• decimation
• abatement
• downtrend
• decrement
• diminishment
• downslide
• drop-off
• desolation
• demolishment
• de-escalation

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• growth
• development
• evolution
• ascent
• advancement
• flowering
• upswing
• restoration
• renewal
• increase
• revitalization
• addition
• gain
• blossoming
• flourishing
• raise
• enhancement
• increment
• supplement
• boost
• augmentation
• accrual
• accretion
• heightening
• addendum

3

as in demise

a loss of status

being sent back to the minor leagues was quite a fall for the once-promising pitcher

Synonyms & Similar Words

• demise
• down
• downfall
• setback
• decline
• collapse
• comedown
• disappointment
• crash
• descent
• reversal
• defeat
• dégringolade
• breakdown
• flameout
• Götterdämmerung
• ruin
• undoing
• burnout
• meltdown
• humiliation
• disgrace
• nadir
• bottom
• abasement

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• up
• progress
• ascent
• advance
• exaltation
• headway
• flower
• aggrandizement
• prime
• heyday

4

as in drop

the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude

panicked during his first unassisted fall when his parachute's rip cord didn't respond to the first tug

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drop
• dip
• descent
• decline
• plunge
• dive
• down
• nosedive
• sinking
• downfall
• downgrade
• plummeting
• comedown

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• climb
• ascent
• soaring
• progress
• advance
• progression
• upturn
• upswing
• rising
• improvement
• headway
• betterment

5

as in decrease

the amount by which something is lessened

that year the fall in prices was 10 cents for a gallon of regular gas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decrease
• drop
• reduction
• decline
• dent
• depletion
• slump
• shrinkage
• loss
• diminution
• depression
• abatement
• decrement
• falloff
• drop-off
• diminishment
• step-down
• slip
• subtraction
• downturn
• cut
• deduction
• cutback
• curtailment
• shortening
• retrenchment

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• rise
• gain
• raise
• addition
• increment
• boost
• enlargement
• accumulation
• supplement
• continuation
• extension
• accrual
• step-up
• accretion
• uptick
• upturn
• upswing
• uptrend

6

as in waterfall

usually falls plural a fall of water usually from a great height

tourists were shocked to see a man jump into the water and go over the falls

Synonyms & Similar Words

• waterfall
• cascade
• cataract
• chute
• rapid(s)
• shoot
• shute
• white water
• flume

7

as in downhill

a downward slope

the sharp fall of the land sends rivers rushing to the seas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• downhill
• dip
• decline
• descent
• hanging
• hang
• depression
• declivity
• downgrade
• declension
• basin
• hollow

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• ascent
• uphill
• upgrade
• grade
• hill
• lean
• pitch
• tilt
• gradient
• rake
• uprise
• inclination
• acclivity
• incline
• glacis

Examples of fall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Bayern did equalize through Harry Kane but then fell apart as Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski put Barça 3-1 up by the break. —Ben Church, CNN, 24 Oct. 2024

Drawing from his own experiences growing up in South Africa, Noah explores the universal tensions between parents and children, particularly the disconnect that can occur when understanding falls short. —Okla Jones, Essence, 24 Oct. 2024

Noun

But these days, Franco is thankful for his fall from grace. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 25 Oct. 2024

Get The Recipe 24 of 34 Butternut Squash Soup Lean into the flavors of fall with this colorful and tasty soup. —Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024

Phrases Containing fall

• fall (to)
• fall apart
• fall away
• fall back
• fall back on
• fall behind
• fall flat
• fall for
• fall from grace
• fall guy
• fall in with
• fall off
• fall on one's face
• fall out
• fall short