falling diphthong

Save This Word!

noun Phonetics.

a diphthong in which the first of the two apparent vocalic elements is of greater stress or sonority and the second is of lesser stress or sonority, as in (ī), (ou), (oi), etc.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”

Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.

Question 1 of 7

Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?

their

there

they're

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Compare rising diphthong.

Origin of falling diphthong

First recorded in 1885–90

Words nearby falling diphthong

fall guy, fallible, fall in, falling action, falling band, falling diphthong, falling door, falling down drunk, falling of womb, falling-out, falling rhythm

Example sentences from the Web for falling diphthong

We also see her physically battling Sheriff Clark, but the camera focuses on her falling to the ground.
Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’|Gary May|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The carpeting is worn, the furniture is falling apart, and the electricity is out for most of the day.
The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan|Umar Farooq|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Where these laser-like missiles are falling out of the sky onto a city and you have to stop each of them from hitting the targets?
Coffee Talk with Ethan Hawke: On ‘Boyhood,’ Jennifer Lawrence, and Bill Clinton’s Urinal Exchange|Marlow Stern|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We have to use common sense inclusiveness, because we are quickly getting to a place where our brain is falling out.
A Field General in the War on Christmas|David Freedlander|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

White, upper-middle-class, Ivy-League educated white men, however Great they are, are falling out of power.
A Few Great Men Too Many: Aaron Sorkin Doesn’t Think You Can Handle the Truth|Arthur Chu|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It will be no more monotonous than having one's seventh birthday or falling in love for the first time.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
For who, while tears are falling, will pause to handle the wreaths, and find whether they are genuine?
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
The falling dew, and the howling wind raised him not from that bed of lonely despair.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
During his mild régime the insurrection increased rapidly, and in one encounter he himself was very near falling a prisoner.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
He walked about, stumbling over sticks and stones and stumps, sometimes falling down on soft moss, and again on the hard ground.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY