fall
fall — verb
1. to drop down suddenly and without meaning to when your body is upright, hitting
to drop down suddenly and without meaning to when your body is upright, hitting the ground or another surface — used when someone trips, slips, or loses control of their body
Kwame slipped on the wet floor and fell, hurting his elbow.
intransitive: fall + sentence-final position (no object)
The toddler took a few steps and then fell onto the soft carpet.
fall + onto [surface]
Beatrix fell off her bicycle when she tried to turn too fast.
During the ice storm, several pedestrians fell on the slippery path.
Mira's grandmother fell in the garden and broke her wrist.
文法句型
fall + [preposition/phrase of direction or place]
用法筆記
This sense is always intransitive — you cannot 'fall something'. The past tense is 'fell' and the past participle is 'fallen'. Very common with prepositions of location or direction: fall off, fall onto, fall down, fall in.
常見錯誤
2. to drop so that your face or the front of your body hits the ground or another s
to drop so that your face or the front of your body hits the ground or another surface first
Rodrigo tripped over the rug and fell flat on his face.
fall flat on one's face
The runner stumbled at the finish line and fell forward onto the track.
Élise slipped on the wet leaves and fell flat in the middle of the path.
A child fell face down in the sand but quickly got back up.
- fall flat
the most common fixed phrase for landing face down
文法句型
fall + flat/forward/face down
fall + [preposition] + face/front
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed phrase 'fall flat on your face'. The emphasis is on the position of landing, not the cause of the fall.
3. If an amount, price, temperature, or level drops, it goes down to a smaller numb
If an amount, price, temperature, or level drops, it goes down to a smaller number or a less strong state.
The temperature fell sharply after the sun went down.
fall + [adverb of degree]
House prices in the area have fallen by almost ten percent.
fall + by [amount]
Faisal's confidence fell after he failed the driving test twice.
The number of students at the school has fallen this year.
Sales of winter coats fall when the weather gets warmer.
文法句型
fall + by [amount]
fall + from [amount] + to [amount]
fall + [adverb of degree]
用法筆記
Commonly followed by 'by' to indicate the size of the decrease: fall by 10%, fall by half. The opposite of this sense is 'rise' or 'increase'. Do not use this sense for physical height (use 'go down' or 'descend').
常見錯誤
4. to drop down through the air from above, pulled towards the ground by gravity —
to drop down through the air from above, pulled towards the ground by gravity — used for rain, snow, leaves, or other objects moving downwards.
Snow fell gently on the rooftops of the old town.
fall + gently / quietly (adverb of manner)
Leaves fall from the trees in early autumn every year.
A heavy curtain of rain fell across the valley without warning.
Brooke watched the coin fall through the water toward the bottom.
Cherry blossoms fall from the branches like pink snow.
文法句型
fall + from/through/onto [place]
fall + [adverb of direction]
用法筆記
This sense is about things moving downward through air or water — not about people losing balance (see sense 1). 'Fall gently', 'fall straight down', and 'fall like [something]' are common patterns.
常見錯誤
5. to bend your legs and lower your body until your knees are on the ground, often
to bend your legs and lower your body until your knees are on the ground, often as a sign of respect, worship, or strong emotion
The knight fell to one knee before the queen.
fall + to + [body part]
Hui fell to her knees and begged for forgiveness.
fall to one's knees
The audience all fell to their knees in respect for the elderly poet.
Roya fell on her knees to thank her rescuers.
- kneel
describes the position already on the knees, not the action of getting there
- stand up
to rise from a kneeling position
文法句型
fall + to + [body part]
fall + on + [body part]
用法筆記
The most common collocation is 'fall to your knees'. 'Fall on your knees' also occurs. This sense is intentional — unlike sense 1, the person chooses to fall down onto their knees.
常見錯誤
6. if the curtain in a theatre falls, it moves downwards to hide the stage at the e
if the curtain in a theatre falls, it moves downwards to hide the stage at the end of a performance, signalling that the play or show is over
When the curtain fell, the audience clapped for five full minutes.
when + the curtain falls
The curtain fell just as the actors took their final bow.
After the curtain fell, the director hugged everyone on the stage.
Linh waited behind the stage until the curtain fell completely.
- come down
a more general way to describe the curtain's movement
- rise
the curtain rises at the start of a performance
文法句型
the curtain falls
when the curtain falls
用法筆記
This is a fixed expression — only the theatre curtain 'falls'. You cannot say 'the curtain fell down'. This sense is also used metaphorically in writing to signal the end of an era or event.
7. to be part of a certain group, category, or field of activity
to be part of a certain group, category, or field of activity
The documents fall into three main groups: personal, financial, and legal.
fall + into + category noun phrase
This question falls under the heading of international trade law.
fall + under + heading/field noun
Liang said that her research falls within the field of environmental science.
Indra's main duties at work fall under the marketing department.
Most consumer products fall into one of four basic categories.
- belong to
more general; does not require a preposition indicating subordination
- come under
slightly less formal than 'fall under'
- be classified as
more formal and technical
文法句型
fall + into/under/within + noun phrase
用法筆記
Commonly followed by 'into', 'under', or 'within' to show which group something belongs to. This sense typically does not use the continuous form ('is falling into').
常見錯誤
8. to move into a different state or condition, often without planning or control
to move into a different state or condition, often without planning or control
Mert fell asleep on the train after a long day at work.
fall + asleep — common state-change collocation
Iris fell in love with the old town during her very first visit.
fall + in love — emotional state change
Madison fell ill the night before the exam and went to hospital.
The whole room fell silent when the principal walked in with a serious expression.
The old house fell into disrepair after the owners moved abroad.
- stay
to remain in the same state
文法句型
fall + adjective
fall + into/in + noun phrase
用法筆記
Commonly used with a limited set of adjectives (asleep, silent, ill, due, pregnant) and nouns following 'into' (disrepair, ruin, decay, disuse, a coma). Often describes a sudden or passive change that the subject does not control.
常見錯誤
9. to be defeated, to lose a position of authority or power, or to fail completely
to be defeated, to lose a position of authority or power, or to fail completely
The government fell after losing the support of its coalition partners.
fall = lose power (of a government)
The Roman Empire finally fell after centuries of ruling much of Europe.
Matthew's business fell during the economic downturn when orders dried up.
Several once-powerful regimes have fallen in the face of popular protests.
Maja's political career fell after the scandal was reported in the national press.
- collapse
more dramatic; suggests sudden and complete failure
- be overthrown
specifically of governments or rulers, often by force
文法句型
fall + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Typically used of governments, leaders, political parties, empires, and large institutions. Not used for individual defeat in sports or games — use 'lose' or 'be defeated' instead.
常見錯誤
10. when a place like a town or fortress is captured by opposing forces during a war
when a place like a town or fortress is captured by opposing forces during a war or election
The city fell to the enemy after a siege that lasted six months.
fall + to + conqueror — place captured in war
The ancient fortress fell when the attackers discovered a hidden tunnel beneath the walls.
The northern capital fell to the rebel forces without a single shot being fired.
The castle fell after the defenders ran out of food and clean drinking water.
- be captured
more general; can be used for people and objects, not just places
- be taken
slightly less formal than 'fall' in this context
文法句型
fall + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Used specifically of geographic or strategic locations (cities, forts, capitals, castles) in the context of war or political takeover. The captor is introduced by 'to', and the cause or manner by a following clause or phrase.
常見錯誤
11. if a soldier falls, he or she is killed while fighting in a war
if a soldier falls, he or she is killed while fighting in a war
Many brave soldiers fell during the Battle of the Somme in the First World War.
fall + during + battle — die in combat
Tariro's great-grandfather fell in combat during the war of independence.
A stone memorial was built to honour those who fell defending the country.
The general saluted the troops who had fallen in that morning's attack on the hills.
- be killed
neutral and more general; can be used in any context
- die in action
military term for death during combat operations
- survive
to continue living through a dangerous situation
文法句型
fall + in/at + battle/location
用法筆記
A formal or literary word for 'die in battle'. Frequently used in historical writing, war memorials, and commemorative language. Never used for accidental death outside of combat.
常見錯誤
12. in the sport of cricket, the stumps are said to fall when the bowler or a fielde
in the sport of cricket, the stumps are said to fall when the bowler or a fielder dismisses a batter, ending their time at the crease
The third wicket fell just before lunch, putting the team in serious trouble.
wicket + fall = batter is out
The opening batter's wicket fell early when he edged the ball to the wicketkeeper.
Five wickets fell in the morning session, and the match turned completely.
The first wicket fell in the opening over, shocking the home crowd.
文法句型
wicket + fall + adverb
用法筆記
A technical cricket term. Only the wicket 'falls', not the batter. Used in match commentary and written reports. Outside of cricket this sense does not apply.
常見錯誤
13. (of an event, holiday, or special day) to happen on a particular date or during
(of an event, holiday, or special day) to happen on a particular date or during a particular period of time.
Chinese New Year falls in late January or February every year.
fall + in + month/season
The graduation ceremony falls on a Friday this year, so Nia's parents will watch.
fall + on + specific day
Mateo's birthday fell on the same day as the school concert, and he enjoyed both.
The harvest festival falls at the end of summer when crops are ready to pick.
- occur
more formal; 'fall' is more natural for recurring dates and holidays
- take place
formal, used for events rather than calendar dates
文法句型
fall + on/in/at + (time/place)
用法筆記
Commonly used with the prepositions on, in, or at to indicate the date, month, or season of an annual or planned event.
14. To hang down in a loose or natural way, especially because of weight or gravity.
To hang down in a loose or natural way, especially because of weight or gravity.
Élise's dark hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders as she read quietly.
hair + falls + over/across/down
The velvet curtains fell to the floor on both sides of the stage.
A strand of hair fell across Owen's face while he painted, and he ignored it.
The branches of the old willow tree fell into the pond, touching the water gently.
文法句型
fall + preposition/adverb
用法筆記
Subject is typically hair, cloth, fabric, or plant material. Often used with location words like 'over', 'across', 'down', 'into'.
常見錯誤
15. If someone's face falls, their expression suddenly changes to show that they are
If someone's face falls, their expression suddenly changes to show that they are disappointed, sad, or shocked by what they have just seen or heard.
When Tariq heard that the trip was cancelled, his face fell.
face + falls + after bad news
Mia's face fell as she read the rejection letter from her dream university.
The children's faces fell when the teacher said the beach trip was postponed.
Vivek's face fell when the waiter said the kitchen had run out of his dish.
- sink
e.g. 'Her heart sank' — describes the feeling; 'face falls' describes the visible reaction
- light up
'His face lit up' — the opposite, showing joy or excitement
文法句型
[possessive] face + falls
用法筆記
This expression is fixed; 'face' is nearly always the subject. It is used only about a change of expression that happens in response to disappointing news or a sudden realisation.
常見錯誤
16. To slope downward from a higher position to a lower position, used especially of
To slope downward from a higher position to a lower position, used especially of land, paths, and terrain.
The garden falls gently toward the river at the bottom of the hill.
land + falls + toward [direction]
The path falls steeply for about two hundred metres before reaching the old stone bridge.
Beyond Trang's house, the hillside falls into a small valley where wildflowers bloom in spring.
The land falls away sharply behind the barn, giving a view of the fields below.
- rise
to go upward, the opposite of falling terrain
文法句型
fall + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Often used with directional prepositions such as 'toward', 'away', 'into', and 'to'. The phrasal form 'fall away' is very common for describing ground that slopes steeply downward.
fall — noun
1. a situation in which the level, amount, or value of something becomes lower than
a situation in which the level, amount, or value of something becomes lower than it was before.
The fall in house prices made it easier for younger people to buy a home.
fall in + noun — indicates the area of decrease
Companies reported a sharp fall in profit during the first three months of the year.
sharp / dramatic / sudden + fall — common intensifier collocations
A sudden fall in temperature forced the school to close early.
There was a dramatic fall in the number of tourists visiting the old town.
Economists expect a fall in unemployment before the end of the year.
文法句型
fall + in + noun
fall + of + noun
用法筆記
Often used with adjectives that show the speed or size of the decrease: sharp, sudden, dramatic, steady, slight.
常見錯誤
2. the time of year that comes between summer and winter, known for cooler weather
the time of year that comes between summer and winter, known for cooler weather and trees losing their leaves.
The park looks beautiful in the fall when the leaves turn red and gold.
in the fall — typical prepositional phrase for season reference
Sora and his family usually go hiking during the fall season.
Many farmers harvest their crops in the early fall before the heavy rain arrives.
Allison is planning to start university in the fall of next year.
The fall colors attract thousands of visitors to the mountain village each year.
- autumn
the standard term in British English; also used in formal American writing
- spring
the opposite season in the yearly cycle
文法句型
in the fall
the fall + of + year
last / next / this fall
用法筆記
This word is the standard term for the season in American English. British speakers use autumn. In the US, fall can also be used as an adjective: fall weather, fall semester.
常見錯誤
3. an occasion when someone or something accidentally moves down from a higher posi
an occasion when someone or something accidentally moves down from a higher position to the ground, often causing injury or damage.
The old man had a nasty fall on the icy sidewalk last week.
have a fall — common light-verb construction with adjective
Kabir broke his arm in a fall from a tree in the backyard.
A bad fall off the horse kept Dewi out of riding competitions for months.
Doctors say that serious falls among older people increase in winter weather.
Nora twisted her ankle in a fall while running down the kitchen stairs.
文法句型
have a fall
fall from + noun
fall off + noun
用法筆記
Typically goes with have, take, or suffer: have a fall, suffer a fall. When describing where the fall happened from, use fall from (a height) or fall off (a surface).
常見錯誤
4. a quantity of material such as rain, snow, rocks, or ash that descends downward
a quantity of material such as rain, snow, rocks, or ash that descends downward toward the ground from above.
A heavy fall of snow blocked all the roads leading to the village.
fall of + rain / snow / ash — measure of precipitation or debris
The mountain path was dangerous because of frequent rock falls after storms.
A light fall of ash from the volcano covered the rooftops and gardens.
The village received a record fall of rain in just 48 hours last summer.
Imani cleared the leaves after the first big fall of autumn.
文法句型
fall of + noun (rain, snow, ash, rocks)
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (DROP IN AMOUNT), this sense refers to a physical substance that moves downward, not to a statistical decrease. Distinguish from sense 1 by checking whether something concrete is falling.
5. a place where a river or stream drops steeply over a cliff or rock, often used i
a place where a river or stream drops steeply over a cliff or rock, often used in the names of waterfalls.
Niagara Falls is one of the most famous natural wonders in North America.
[name] + Falls — standard naming pattern for large waterfalls
Tourists took a boat ride to see the powerful falls up close.
The trail leads to a beautiful hidden fall deep inside the forest.
Visitors can hear the sound of the falls from over a mile away.
The guide showed the group a map of the major falls in the park.
文法句型
the + proper name + Falls
用法筆記
When used in place names, falls is almost always plural (Niagara Falls, Shoshone Falls). For a single waterfall not in a proper name, both 'fall' and 'falls' are possible.
常見錯誤
6. a situation in which a person, government, or place is defeated, captured, or lo
a situation in which a person, government, or place is defeated, captured, or loses its position of authority or influence.
The fall of the city marked the end of a long and bloody war.
the fall of + place — historical / political pattern
Historians still argue about the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire.
The dictator's sudden fall from power surprised many political observers.
After the fall of the government, new elections were held within weeks.
The general's swift fall from grace shocked even his closest allies.
文法句型
the fall of + place / person / regime
用法筆記
Commonly used with of to name what has been defeated: the fall of Rome, the fall of the government. Fall from power focuses on the loss of authority; fall from grace focuses on the loss of good reputation.
常見錯誤
7. an area of land or surface that slopes downwards, such as part of a hill, a road
an area of land or surface that slopes downwards, such as part of a hill, a road that drops, or a long bend that goes to a lower level.
The garden path follows a gentle fall towards the stream.
Jisoo pointed to the fall in the road where it bends sharply.
pointed to + fall in [road/path] — shows common preposition pattern
Hikers must be careful on the steep fall near the old bridge.
The land has a natural fall that carries rainwater down to the lake.
From the window we could see the long fall of the hillside below the village.
- rise
an upward slope or increase in elevation
文法句型
a fall + in/to/towards
用法筆記
Usually singular. Often used in descriptions of terrain, gardens, roads, and paths to indicate a gradual or sharp downward change in level.
常見錯誤
fall — adjective
1. relating to or typical of the autumn season — used especially in American Englis
relating to or typical of the autumn season — used especially in American English to describe things that belong to or are suitable for the months of September through November
Every autumn, Jude loves seeing the fall colors in the park near his house.
only before noun: fall colors / fall weather
Nikhil wore a warm sweater on that cool fall morning.
The fall weather in Vermont is perfect for long walks in the woods.
Lien picked out a thick fall coat before her trip to Boston.
Farmers near Kenji's town sell fresh apples during the fall harvest.
- autumnal
more formal and literary; used in both British and American English; can be used predicatively ('an autumnal feel')
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive position). Not used predicatively — you would not say 'The weather is fall.' Use 'autumnal' in formal or British English contexts.