drop-off
noun
a vertical or very steep descent.
drop-off
American
[drop-awf, -of]
/ ˈdrɒpˌɔf, -ˌɒf /
noun
drop-offs
plural
-
a vertical or very steep descent.
The trail has a drop-off of several hundred feet.
-
a decline; decrease.
Sales have shown a considerable drop-off this year.
-
a place where a person or thing can be left, received, accommodated, etc..
a new drop-off for outpatients.
adjective
drop off
British
verb
-
(intr) to grow smaller or less; decline
-
(tr) to allow to alight; set down
-
informal (intr) to fall asleep
noun
-
a steep or vertical descent
-
a sharp decrease
drop off
Idioms
-
Fall asleep, as in When I looked at Grandma, she had dropped off . [Early 1800s]
-
Decrease; also, become less frequent. For example, Sales have dropped off markedly , or Over the year her visits dropped off . [Early 1800s]
-
Deliver, unload, as in Bill dropped off the package at the office .
-
Die, as in He is so ill he could drop off any time . [Early 1800s]
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of drop-off
First recorded in 1955–60; noun, adj. use of verb phrase drop off
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.
Older women face a lower chance of fertility treatment working, even when using young donor eggs - with a marked drop-off from around the age of 49, new research suggests.
From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026
Clearly, these influences have been on Coffin’s mind since long before there was a Minions sticker on half the minivans at school drop-off.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates $36 billion to $43 billion will be needed to improve recycling curbside collection, drop-off, and processing infrastructure by 2030.
From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026
Other numbers in Friday’s report show the drop-off on audits of corporations, as well.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026
Hugh ran to the edge of the path and peered over the drop-off.
From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs
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.
