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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

drop-offs plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• drop-offs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of drop-off

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

drop-off drop off drop-offs

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

A separate investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is examining whether Waymo’s software behaves with the appropriate caution around schools during drop-off hours.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 30, 2026

Sick with jealous suspicions, Zizmo had been erratic, forgetting to schedule rendezvous, choosing drop-off points with insufficient preparation.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Although temperatures will drop off a little into the weekend, many places will still reach the official heatwave thresholds through much of next week.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

Cody couldn’t get enough of the goings-on at the station when the two would stop by to drop off cassettes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026

The postcode for Donington Park is DE74 2RP, but the postcode for the car park and taxi drop off is DE74 2BN.

From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026

Anyone can drop off your mailed ballot as long as you authorize them to do so and they do not get paid on a per-ballot basis, according to the secretary of state.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026

“All right, we’re going to check in, drop off our stuff, grab some dinner, and then go straight to bed. No funny business tonight. Got it?”

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

During the school year, parking on the north side of Pico is restricted for several hours each day for student drop-offs at a nearby school, she said, forcing drivers onto her side of the street.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

She mentions one of her friends, who has had to cut her working hours to be able to do the school drop-offs and picks-ups.

From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026

There could be fast-flowing currents, sharp rocks, debris, sudden drop-offs, or even heavy machinery in reservoirs or canals.

From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026

Its box-free, label-free drop-offs are an option for shoppers who have already discarded the packaging their orders arrived in.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026

Meanwhile, Barbara and John, at fourteen and eleven, needed everything from skating-lesson drop-offs to late-night homework advice.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Related Words

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