fall in
Britishverb
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to collapse; no longer act as a support
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to adopt a military formation, esp as a soldier taking his place in a line
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(of a lease) to expire
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(of land) to come into the owner's possession on the expiry of the lease
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(often foll by with)
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to meet and join
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to agree with or support a person, suggestion, etc
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to make a mistake or come to grief
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to become pregnant
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Take one's place in formation or in the ranks, as in The sergeant ordered the troops to fall in . A related expression is fall into , as in They all fell into their places . [Early 1600s] Also see fall into .
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Sink inward, cave in, as in The snow was so heavy that we feared the roof would fall in . [Early 1700s] Also see under drop in ; the subsequent idioms beginning with fall in ; fall into .
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.
Fall in year-over-year profits in November of China’s industrial companies with revenue over $2.8 million.
From Barron's • Jan. 3, 2026
Appeared in the October 10, 2025, print edition as 'Porsche Records Fall in Deliveries On China Woes'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025
The Labubu dolls have appeared in several series of "The Monsters", such as "Big into Energy", "Have a Seat", "Exciting Macaron" and "Fall in Wild".
From BBC • Jun. 19, 2025
Her latest work is entitled “Misunderstood Vegetables,” subtitled “How to Fall in Love with Sunchokes, Rutabaga, Eggplant, and More,” and it really is a book about love and understanding.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 9, 2024
Without a smile he began to bark, "Fall in line! Heads up! First customer—go!"
From "Scream for Ice Cream: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #2" by Carolyn Keene
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
