falling

falling — adjective

1. becoming gradually smaller, lower, or weaker, especially in measurable things su

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

becoming gradually smaller, lower, or weaker, especially in measurable things such as prices, temperatures, or energy levels

Example

With falling temperatures in late autumn, Eve wore two sweaters to school each morning.

collocation: falling temperatures

Bao noticed the falling prices on electronic gadgets and decided to buy a new tablet.

collocation: falling prices

Common collocations
  • falling prices
  • falling temperatures
  • falling interest rates
  • falling standards
  • falling levels
  • falling numbers
  • falling energy
  • falling sales
Synonyms
  • decreasing

    more formal and neutral; works for any downward change in quantity

  • declining

    stronger connotation of a continuing downward trend, especially for standards, health, or quality

  • dropping

    more informal; common for prices, temperatures, and rates in everyday speech

Antonyms
  • rising

    moving upward in value, amount, or level

  • increasing

    becoming larger in size or number

Grammar Patterns

falling + noun

Usage Note

Almost always used before a noun to describe a measurable quantity or condition that is becoming lower — for example, a price, temperature, score, or level.

Common Mistakes

The falling is worrying.
The falling numbers are worrying.
'falling' is an adjective and must modify a noun; it cannot stand alone as the subject.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three describe a downward movement, but they differ in register and connotation. 'Decreasing' is the most neutral and formal of the group — it simply states that the amount is going down ('decreasing temperatures'). 'Declining' suggests a more gradual or worrying downward trend, often with an implied judgment about quality or health ('declining test scores'). 'Dropping' feels the most informal and immediate, as if the speaker is observing a change right now ('dropping prices in the supermarket'). In everyday speech, 'falling' overlaps most with 'dropping' for concrete measures like temperature and price, but 'falling' also works for abstract things like energy levels or morale. Use 'declining' when you want to add a tone of concern or long-term trend. Use 'decreasing' in more formal or written contexts.

decreasingdecliningdropping ↗

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Falling' is the present participle of the verb 'fall', which traces back to Old English 'feallan' (to drop from a height, to decay). This Germanic root (Proto-Germanic *fallaną) is shared with Dutch 'vallen' and German 'fallen'. The sense of 'becoming lower in amount or strength' developed through physical metaphors: something that falls physically drops, so by extension, numbers, prices, temperatures, and even morale can 'fall' — and 'falling' as an adjective describes being in the process of that downward change.