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to drop

to drop

∞ 1.0
To let something fall suddenly or by accident
  • verb
  • /drɑp/
: dejar caer
  • The next morning, Edwin dropped his coffee cup when he saw me.
  • accidentally drop
  • drop to the ground
  • drop bombs

That was a big puzzle piece that he dropped into that jigsaw puzzle, right?

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Examples

  • I think you dropped this.

  • You dropped it outside the church.

  • As in, if I drop this pen, what's going to happen?

  • You dropped this.

  • Before we climb back up the bluff, Smith drops a coin at the water's edge.

    Academic text (2008)
  • She accidentally dropped her phone on the pavement.

  • As I was reaching for the shelf, I dropped the book I was holding.

  • He dropped the ball when I called his name unexpectedly.

Synonyms

to fall
vsto drop
∞ 1.0

Move or drop down from a higher to a lower place

adds that this movement can be caused by letting go or happening unintentionally
to sink
vsto drop
378 1.0

To move down physically or emotionally, often when tired

is more immediate and often accidental physical falling rather than gradual sinking
to fall down
vsto drop
326 1.0

Suddenly move from a standing position to the ground or a lower level

includes that same sudden downward motion but also covers objects and liquids
to drip
vsto drop
162 1.0

To let liquid fall in small drops

covers falling actions beyond just small liquid drops
to fall off
vsto drop
144 1.4

Lose your balance and drop down from something like a ladder

is broader, covering any letting go or unintentional descent
to shed
vsto drop
118 2.8

To let something fall or spill out by accident

is the general act of letting things fall beyond liquids or spills
to plummet
vsto drop
97 5.8

Fall suddenly and steeply from a high place or in amount

is similar but less focused on extreme speed or steepness
to drop down
vsto drop
90 1.8

To fall from a higher place to a lower place

focuses more on acts of releasing or unintended falling rather than simple movement
to topple
vsto drop
87 4.1

To fall over or make something fall over, often suddenly when it loses balance

covers falling by release or accident rather than only losing balance
to plunge
vsto drop
81 3.8

To fall or drop suddenly from a higher to a lower place

is like this but also covers ordinary or accidental downward movement
to hit the ground
vsto drop
71 3.6

Touch the ground after falling or being dropped

is about the action of letting go or falling, not only the impact result
to come down
vsto drop
33 1.3

To fall from the sky, as rain, snow, or ash

is general accidental letting something fall rather than weather only
to drop off
vsto drop
29 2.9

To fall from where it is fixed or held

covers general letting go or accidental falling, not just detachment from a position
to dribble
vsto drop
29 2.8

To let liquid or saliva fall in small drops

is broader, applying to objects, people, and liquids falling generally
to drip down
vsto drop
15 1.4

Liquid falls in small drops down a surface

is the wider movement downwards that includes solids and people as well
to take a tumble
vsto drop
9 5.4

To fall suddenly, for example by tripping or by losing value

focuses on simple letting go or accidental falling rather than idiomatic decline
to fall open
vsto drop
7 3.0

To move apart by itself suddenly because of surprise or gravity

is focused on downward movement or release rather than parts opening
to hit the dirt
vsto drop
  • Informal
4 7.5

Drop to the ground quickly to avoid danger

can be accidental as well as deliberate, not only for protection
to drop open
vsto drop
4 3.7

To have the mouth or jaw suddenly fall open because of surprise

refers to bodies or objects falling or being let go, not sudden opening
to drop away
vsto drop
4 3.3

To become less over time

is more about single physical letting go or sudden drops rather than gradual decline
3 2.0

To drop into a hole by accident

is general falling or letting go, not limited to falling into cavities
to nosedive
vsto drop
2 5.8

To fall quickly and steeply, like a plane or stocks

describes sudden descent more generally without the nose-first detail
to air-drop
vsto drop
1 4.6

Drop supplies from a plane by parachute

is the ordinary falling action for objects, not an organized aerial delivery method
to plank
vsto drop
1 7.2

To drop something or yourself down heavily, often making a noise

is mainly accidental or unintended descent rather than deliberate heavy placing
to airdrop
vsto drop
1 4.1

To drop supplies or equipment from an aircraft by parachute

is about simple letting go or accidental falls, not planned aerial delivery
to bobble
vsto drop
1 5.9

To handle something clumsily so you nearly drop it

is the full act of letting something fall rather than almost dropping it
to flump
vsto drop
  • Informal
1 8.8

To fall or put something down heavily so it makes a dull sound

is more general, covering light accidental falls as well as heavy ones
1 5.0

To drop suddenly onto the floor and lie face down or stretched out

is the act of letting go or accidental descent without specifying landing position
to plank down
vsto drop
1 8.0

To put something down hard, often making a loud sound

often involves accidental falling rather than intentional heavy setting

Antonyms

410 1.0

To move upward into the air, like smoke or mist

51 4.0

To move upward to a higher place, for example up a hill or into the sky

Idioms

to drop the ball
  • Informal
38 6.1

Fail to do something you are responsible for

To tell people shocking news suddenly

15 4.9

A very small amount that does not help with a much larger problem

drop-dead
  • Informal
15 6.7

Very attractive or impressive

13 4.2

Immediately and without delay

9 6.9

A lot of people suddenly fall ill or collapse

6 9.8

To tell the police about someone's crime, often secretly

To suddenly tell people something very surprising that shocks them

to drop a deuce
  • Offensive
4 9.9

To go to the toilet to poop in informal speech

to drop the mic
  • Texting
2 8.8

Finish speaking or performing in a confident, impressive way that needs no reply

2 3.8

A very small amount compared with what is needed

to drop the soap
  • Offensive
2 9.9

Become vulnerable to sexual attack in prison, often used as a grim joke or warning

to drop the f-bomb
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Say the rude word 'fuck', often in a situation where it surprises or offends people

To surprise someone very much

1 8.6

To prepare for a real fight or, informally, to stop fighting and start working together

To fall suddenly to a much lower level

drop in the pond
  • Informal
1 5.8

A very small amount compared with what is needed

drop in the sea
  • Informal
1 5.5

A very small amount compared with what is needed

to drop a bollock
  • Offensive
9.9

To make a serious, embarrassing mistake by being careless

9.9

To let food fall by accident or make an embarrassing mistake

9.7

To use the F-word to shock people

9.7

To suddenly and completely stop supporting something

To suddenly lose control of your feelings because you feel overwhelmed

4.4

Open your mouth wide in surprise

9.9

Suddenly bring up a shocking topic to change the tone of a discussion

A sudden end that causes death or total ruin

Delay acting until an important event happens

Phrasal Verbs

579 3.0

To take someone or something to a place and leave them there

304 3.0

To leave a course, competition or group before finishing

to drop by
  • Informal
197 2.5

To visit someone or a place for a short time without planning

to drop in
  • Informal
93 3.6

Visit someone without arranging it first

90 1.8

To fall from a higher place to a lower place

to drop dead
  • Informal
87 8.4

Die suddenly, often from shock or extreme tiredness

29 2.9

To fall from where it is fixed or held

22 3.6

To move to a position behind other players, for example to prepare a pass or to help defend

21 3.5

To become less in number or amount

To send a short message to keep in touch

9 4.0

To move back from a place or position, often to a safer spot

To lower an anchor to hold a boat in one place

4 3.7

To have the mouth or jaw suddenly fall open because of surprise

4 3.3

To become less over time

To suggest something in a quiet, indirect way

2 4.4

To leave normal society and live a much simpler life

to drop off
  • Informal
2 3.0

To fall asleep for a short time, often without meaning to

2 7.5

To stop being seen or heard from by others

To decide not to continue with a plan or suggestion

To fall behind others because you move or work more slowly

To leave someone at a swimming pool after giving them a ride

Officially stop attending a class before it ends

to mic drop
  • Slang
1 8.1

To end a speech or comment with an impressive move to show nothing more is needed

to drop a load
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To poop and get rid of solid waste from your body

1 7.5

Stop taking part because it becomes too difficult

1 2.3

To visit someone informally to have coffee and chat

To stop talking about a subject

1 6.9

Lose a game in tennis when you are the player who starts the point

To wash some clothes at one time

To stop a court case by canceling the official paper that starts it

to drop out
  • Specialized
5.9

To stop using some parts of a machine learning model at random during training so it learns better

Compounds

29 2.2

A place to leave people or things

15 1.7

A small sweet with medicine that helps a sore throat and stops coughing

drop zone
  • Specialized
10 6.0

An area where supplies or soldiers are dropped from a plane by parachute

10 3.9

A sudden decrease in amount, quality or rate

drop-down
  • Specialized
10 3.9

A list of choices that appears below when you click it

9 3.4

A small drop of medicine put into the eye to help it feel better

dead drop
  • Jargon
7 9.3

A secret place where people leave messages or items for others to collect without meeting

drop-down menu
  • Specialized
5 3.2

A list of options that appears below a menu item so you can choose one

4 3.0

A large cloth that you put over floors or furniture during painting

3 1.3

A small hard candy with lemon flavor, usually yellow and shaped like a lemon

3 5.5

A very steep edge of land or rock

drop-in
  • Specialized
3 3.7

Designed to fit and work without changes

2 1.0

A small round piece of water that hangs on leaves after rain

1 3.2

An earring that hangs below the earlobe with a small decoration

1 7.4

A car with a roof that you can fold down or remove

voltage drop
  • Specialized
1 4.7

A loss of electrical pressure when current goes through a wire or part of a circuit

drop shot
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A soft shot in tennis that lands just over the net and drops quickly, hard to reach

drop forge
  • Specialized
1 9.1

A heavy machine that shapes hot metal by dropping a large hammer

mic drop
  • Slang
1 8.0

An impressive ending to a speech or performance that shows nothing more needs saying

1 3.5

A small soft biscuit you make by dropping dough from a spoon and baking

drop bear
  • Australian
1 9.9

A fake dangerous animal Australians joke about that falls from trees onto people to scare tourists

1 7.8

A hinged part of a table you lift to make more space

A table with sides that fold down to save space and lift up to make it larger

A fee you pay for returning a rented car to a different place

1 4.6

A small, thick pancake made by dropping spoonfuls of batter onto a hot pan

drop curtain
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A large curtain hung above the stage that lowers to make background scenery

drop hammer
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A large machine that shapes metal by dropping a heavy weight onto it

drop zone
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A place on a screen where you drag files to upload or move them

potential drop
  • Specialized
1 7.0

The difference in electric voltage between two points in a circuit

drop arch
  • Specialized
8.7

An arch with a gently pointed, shallow curve used in buildings

drop keel
  • Specialized
8.3

A fin under a sailboat that you raise or lower to stop the boat sliding sideways

drop line
  • Jargon
7.5

A headline where each line after the first is indented more to the right

drop cloth
  • Specialized
4.8

A large curtain that people lower from above to make a background on a stage

drop press
  • Specialized
8.8

A machine that shapes metal by dropping a heavy weight onto it

drop-seed
  • Specialized
9.4

A grass with very small seeds that fall off easily

needle drop
  • Jargon
7.9

A moment when a song starts in a film or show that makes the scene more powerful

How Fast

to plummet
97 5.8
to drop
∞ 1.0
slip
39 1.0
to slide
523 1.0

Surface Forms

drop infinitive
dropped past
dropped past participle
dropping present participle
drops third person singular

Etymology

Drop comes from an old idea of something small falling, like a tiny bit of water, and is related to the simple word drip; so to drop something is to let it fall down, often quickly or by accident.