free-fall

free-fall — noun

1. the condition of moving downward under the pull of gravity, with no parachute sl

1.名詞B2
釋義

the condition of moving downward under the pull of gravity, with no parachute slowing you down or engine keeping you aloft

例句

The skydiver experienced about forty seconds of free-fall before opening her parachute.

seconds of free-fall — duration measurement in the physical sense

Putri learned in her aviation course that a plane can enter free-fall if it loses all engine power.

enter free-fall — verb + noun collocation

同義詞
  • drop

    simpler and more general; does not specifically describe gravity-only motion

  • descent

    more formal; can be controlled (e.g. a parachute descent) unlike free-fall

反義詞

文法句型

in free-fall

enter free-fall

seconds/minutes of free-fall

用法筆記

Often used with prepositions 'into' or 'in' — 'enter free-fall', 'be in free-fall'. In strict physics, true free-fall ignores air resistance, but everyday usage includes any fall where gravity is the main force.

常見錯誤

The parachute opened during free-fall right after he jumped.
The parachute opened after a free-fall of 30 seconds.
💡Free-fall is the period before the parachute opens, not during its use.

2. a situation where the value, strength, or popularity of something drops very fas

2.名詞B2
釋義

a situation where the value, strength, or popularity of something drops very fast and keeps falling, often with no sign of recovery

例句

The company's shares went into free-fall after the CEO suddenly resigned.

shares went into free-fall — stock market usage

Hassan watched the price of Bitcoin enter free-fall during the market panic.

同義詞
  • plummet

    verb form; focuses on the speed of the fall

  • nosedive

    similar meaning but often used for a single steep drop rather than an ongoing decline

  • collapse

    suggests a complete and final failure, not just a rapid decline

反義詞
  • recovery

    the return to a stable or improved condition after a decline

  • rally

    a positive reversal, especially in financial markets

文法句型

go into free-fall

be in free-fall

in free-fall

用法筆記

Commonly used with 'go into' or 'be in' — 'go into free-fall', 'be in free-fall'. Unlike a simple drop, free-fall suggests the decline is continuing and may speed up. Can describe financial markets, reputation, popularity, and personal well-being.

常見錯誤

The stock had a small free-fall and then recovered.
The stock went into a free-fall and kept dropping for weeks.
💡Free-fall implies a continuing, uncontrolled decline, not a one-time price dip.