fallen

American  

[faw-luhn] / ˈfɔ lən /

verb

1. past participle of fall.

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adjective

1. having dropped or come down from a higher place, from an upright position, or from a higher level, degree, amount, quality, value, number, etc.

2. on the ground; prostrate; down flat.

   Exhausted, the racers lay fallen by the road.

3. degraded or immoral.

4. (of a woman) having lost her chastity.

5. overthrown, destroyed, or conquered.

   a fallen city.

6. dead.

   fallen troops.

fallen British  

/ ˈfɔːlən /

verb

1. the past participle of fall

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adjective

1. having sunk in reputation or honour

   a fallen woman

2. killed in battle with glory

   our fallen heroes

3. defeated

Other Word Forms

• unfallen adjective

Etymology

Origin of fallen

First recorded before 900, for the adjective

Example Sentences

Maro and his colleagues collected intact, freshly fallen fruits lying beneath trees where chimps had recently been feeding.

From Science Daily

However, inventories have fallen sharply as concerns over potential U.S. tariffs prompted traders to shift holdings to the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

Officials said the extent of the damage in the worst-affected central region was only just being revealed as relief workers cleared roads blocked by fallen trees and mudslides.

From Barron's

The price had fallen, which, according to the tipster, was a great chance to buy the dip.

From The Wall Street Journal

But consent rates across the UK have fallen to their lowest point in a decade and the number of people on the transplant waiting list has also reached a record high this year.

From BBC

Related Words

• collapsed
• decayed