free fall
noun
the hypothetical fall of a body such that the only force acting upon it is that of gravity.
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:
The equivalence principle says that gravity should effectively vanish locally for an observer in free fall.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026
When he’s unsteady, every leap is perilously close to a free fall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
While it certainly appears the stock is in free fall, a quick turnaround certainly is possible.
From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026
The number of water voles nationally are in free fall, with more than 90 per cent of them lost since the 1970s, the Mammal Society said.
From BBC ● May 19, 2026
Weightlessness is caused by the fact that an object in orbit is essentially in a free fall.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
“Job growth is slowing, yes, but not in free-fall, thanks to healthcare,” said Appcast Chief Economist Andrew Flowers in a note on Friday.
From Barron's ● Apr. 3, 2026
Baumgartner’s altitude record stood for two years until Google executive Alan Eustace set new marks for the highest free-fall jump and greatest free-fall distance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2025
It felt like the free-fall drop on a roller coaster, somehow more intense than anything at Six Flags.
From Slate ● Jun. 22, 2025
It accused the digital platform - where investors can buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies - of fixing exchange rates and currency speculation leading to the free-fall of the local currency.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 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
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
However, there’s still a chance the Broncos could win the AFC West if they win out and free-falling Kansas City loses its last two games.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 27, 2023
He regained consciousness as he was free-falling through the clouds.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
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
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
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
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
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.
