Fall down meaning
Fall down means to drop to the ground from a standing position. It can also mean to be in such bad condition that it may break and drop.
fall down
fall down · fell · fallen · falling
She slipped on the ice and fell down.
Fall down meanings and examples
3 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Drop to the ground from a standing position
fall down
- She slipped on the ice and fell down.
- The old tree fell down in the storm.
- Did you hurt yourself when you fell down?
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2
Be in such bad condition that it may break and drop
fall down
- That old barn is falling down.
- Nobody lives there now. The house is falling down.
- The fence has been falling down for years.
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3
Fail or be weak in one part
fall down
- The plan falls down because it costs too much.
- Where your essay falls down is the ending.
- The team played well but fell down in defence.
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Use fall down in real conversations
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Is fall down separable?
Fall down has no object. You fall down, or something falls down. To name a place, use a preposition: fall down the stairs.
Fall down the stairs means fall from the top to the bottom. Fall over is also common, especially in UK English, for a person who trips and hits the ground.
Verb tenses for fall down
| Present | I fall down · she falls down |
|---|---|
| Past | fell down |
| Present perfect | have fallen down |
| -ing form | falling down |
Common mistakes with fall down
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: I fell down from my bike.
Right: I fell off my bike.
When you come off something, use fall off.
Wrong: He has fell down twice this week.
Right: He has fallen down twice this week.
The past participle is fallen.
Wrong: The boy fell down the glass.
Right: The boy knocked over the glass.
Fall down has no object; to make something fall, use knock over or drop.
Synonyms and opposites of fall down
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- fall overlose balance and hit the ground; very close
- triphit your foot on something and almost or really fall
- fall apartbreak into pieces, not drop to the ground
Fall down quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1The floor was wet, and two people ___.
Fall down means drop to the ground.
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2Choose the right sentence.
Use fall off when you come off a horse, bike or wall.
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3“The castle is slowly falling down.” What does it mean?
A building that is falling down is in very bad condition.
More phrasal verbs with fall
All phrasal verbs with fall, by level, with an exercise
6 phrasal verbs start with fall. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
Fall down FAQ
Questions people ask about fall down.
What is the difference between fall down and fall over?
They are very close for people. Fall over often suggests losing your balance: He fell over his shoelaces. Fall down is also used for trees and buildings.
What is the past tense of fall down?
Fell down. The participle is fallen down: The wall has fallen down.
Fall down or fall off?
Fall off a thing you were on: fall off a bike, a chair or a wall. Fall down to the ground from standing.
Use fall down in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.