free fall
noun
the hypothetical fall of a body such that the only force acting upon it is that of gravity.
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free fall
1 Americannoun
-
the hypothetical fall of a body such that the only force acting upon it is that of gravity.
-
the part of a parachute jump that precedes the opening of the parachute.
-
a decline, especially a sudden or rapid decline, as in value or prestige, that appears to be endless or bottomless.
The economy was in a free fall all winter.
free-fall
2
American
[free-fawl]
/ ˈfriˌfɔl /
verb (used without object)
free-fell,
free-fallen,
free-falling
adjective
noun
free fall
British
noun
-
free descent of a body in which the gravitational force is the only force acting on it
-
the part of a parachute descent before the parachute opens
free fall
Cultural
free fall
Idioms
Discover More
During free fall, objects are said to be weightless.
Etymology
Origin of free fall1
First recorded in 1915–20
Origin of free-fall2
First recorded in 1830–40
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton recognized this universality of free fall centuries ago.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
“Cereal appears to be in a financial free fall; sales have been declining for years,” the authors report, partly because new products such as protein bars offer greater convenience.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
When he’s unsteady, every leap is perilously close to a free fall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
Since the April election, Orbán's party has been in free fall, reeling from the shock defeat.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
But now Shay had done it again, disappearing like the track below, leaving Tally in free fall.
From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
Brown-Forman stock, which has been in free-fall since late 2020, jumped after news of the Pernod talks and has held steady in the weeks since.
From Barron's ● Apr. 9, 2026
Braverman said the reference to her mental health was "a bit pathetic" and "more signs of a bitter and desperate party that seems to be in free-fall".
From BBC ● Jan. 28, 2026
It felt like the free-fall drop on a roller coaster, somehow more intense than anything at Six Flags.
From Slate ● Jun. 22, 2025
Demand for downtown office space was in something of a free-fall at only 21% of the prepandemic level when I checked in November.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 1, 2024
At that point, the force of gravity would take over and the capsule would free-fall down to the landing point.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
Once one of Southern California’s most celebrated happenings, the Iowa Picnic has free-fallen for decades.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2019
My eyes shoot open the next morning and I look for what woke me, seeing my phone vibrating noisily on the floor, having free-fallen off the table.
From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott
Like a pinball hurled into the the modern tech bubble, Duncan has spent the season trying to stay in the game without getting stuck or free-falling into oblivion too quickly.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026
Pahlavi has positioned himself as a potential leader if the regime falls, and in early January he urged Iranians to join the protests that began late last year over the country’s free-falling currency.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 28, 2026
Bayer Leverkusen moved a point behind fourth-placed Leipzig with a 3-1 win at free-falling Eintracht Frankfurt, without a coach until Albert Riera takes over next week.
From Barron's ● Jan. 31, 2026
The official said they were also reviewing other weapons sales, including equipment that helps convert free-falling bombs into precision-guided munitions.
From BBC ● May 8, 2024
I can’t stand that feeling — free-falling through the sky with my eyes closed — but David loves it. «n n Lome on over.
From "Rules" by Cynthia Lord
Florence paddled, grit his teeth, free-fell down a 15-foot face, disappeared into one barrel and then another.
From Reuters ● Dec. 9, 2011
Plummeting critically late out of the lip, the wind catching his board as he free-fell, Slater landed on his rail and was thrown ridiculously sideways back into the wall of the rapidly rifling wave.
From Time Magazine Archive
I kinda free-fell for a second, stuck it, and just tried to set my rail and pull up - and I did somehow.
From Time Magazine Archive
Taking off on a solid six-footer, Slater was held up in the lip by stiff offshore winds and free-fell down the face.
From Time Magazine Archive
The boar free-fell into the gorge with a mighty squeal and landed in a snowdrift with a huge POOOOOF!
From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
