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• drop-off
  drop-off

  noun

  a vertical or very steep descent.
• drop off
  drop off

  verb

  (intr) to grow smaller or less; decline

drop-off

American  

[drop-awf, -of] / ˈdrɒpˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

noun

1. a vertical or very steep descent.

   The trail has a drop-off of several hundred feet.

2. a decline; decrease.

   Sales have shown a considerable drop-off this year.

3. a place where a person or thing can be left, received, accommodated, etc..

   a new drop-off for outpatients.

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adjective

1. applied when a rented vehicle is left elsewhere than at the point of hire.

   to pay a drop-off charge.

drop off British  

verb

1. (intr) to grow smaller or less; decline

2. (tr) to allow to alight; set down

3. informal (intr) to fall asleep

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noun

1. a steep or vertical descent

2. a sharp decrease

drop off Idioms  

1. Fall asleep, as in When I looked at Grandma, she had dropped off . [Early 1800s]

2. Decrease; also, become less frequent. For example, Sales have dropped off markedly , or Over the year her visits dropped off . [Early 1800s]

3. Deliver, unload, as in Bill dropped off the package at the office .

4. Die, as in He is so ill he could drop off any time . [Early 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of drop-off

First recorded in 1955–60; noun, adj. use of verb phrase drop off

Example Sentences

As the drone approaches each drop-off point, it knows exactly where to release the package using GPS.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

Amazon’s network of more than 10,000 drop-off points for returns includes locations like Whole Foods Market, the UPS Store, FedEx Office, Kohl’s and Staples.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

That means they are more likely to sit back in their cars and wait for higher fares for quick pick-up and drop-off.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

But before you go hustling this half-million-dollar bison through the cones at the school drop-off, be sure to warm up the tires.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Mom drove our old clunker up to the drop-off curb behind a bunch of other cars—mostly fancy cars like BMWs, Volvos, and Jeeps, all shiny and freshly waxed in a variety of bright colors.

From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling

Related Words

• diminish
• dwindle
• fall away
• fall off
• lessen
• sag
• slacken