drop-off

/ˈdrɒpˌɒf/ (bre, ipa) · [drˈɑpˌɔf] /ˈdrɑːpˌɑːf/ (ame, ipa) · [drˈɑpˌɔf] /ˈdräp-ˌȯf/ (ame, mw)

drop-off — noun

1. a situation in which the amount, level, or quality of something becomes noticeab

1.名詞B1
釋義

a situation in which the amount, level, or quality of something becomes noticeably smaller or worse than before

例句

The company saw a sharp drop-off in sales after the product recall.

collocation: sharp drop-off in [something]

Teachers noticed a drop-off in student attendance during the winter months.

同義詞
  • decline

    more general, can apply to gradual or sudden decreases

  • decrease

    neutral term, used for numbers and quantities

  • downturn

    specifically about economic or business conditions

反義詞
  • increase

    general opposite

  • upturn

    specifically for business or economic improvement

文法句型

drop-off + in + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently followed by the preposition 'in' to specify what is declining. Singular only — you would not say 'drop-offs' for this sense.

常見錯誤

❌We saw a drop-off of customers this year.
✅We saw a drop-off in customers this year.
💡use 'in' (not 'of') after 'drop-off' when naming what declined.

2. a place on a cliff, mountain, or roadside where the ground falls away very steep

2.名詞B1
釋義

a place on a cliff, mountain, or roadside where the ground falls away very steeply, creating a sudden change in height

例句

Diego stopped the car just before the drop-off and peered over the edge.

The hiking trail runs along a dangerous drop-off with no guardrail.

collocation: dangerous drop-off

同義詞
  • cliff

    a vertical rock face; drop-off is usually part of a cliff or ridge

  • precipice

    very steep, often overhanging rock face; more dramatic

  • bluff

    a wide, steep cliff, often at the coast

用法筆記

Used mainly in geographical descriptions and road-safety contexts. Often preceded by a measurement (a thirty-metre drop-off).

常見錯誤

❌The drop-off was covered in thick forest.' (vague — this sense is about the steep edge, not a general slope)
✅The trail ended at a steep drop-off where the cliff fell straight into the sea.
💡clarify that this is a sudden vertical descent, not a gentle slope.

3. the act of taking a person, package, or item to a particular place and leaving i

3.名詞B1
釋義

the act of taking a person, package, or item to a particular place and leaving it there, especially by car

例句

The driver has three more drop-offs before the end of his shift.

collocation: have/make a drop-off

Sofia did a quick drop-off of the documents at the office before heading home.

同義詞
  • delivery

    broader — can be by any means; drop-off is often by car and less formal

  • deposit

    more formal, used in banking or legal contexts

反義詞
  • pick-up

    the act of collecting someone or something

文法句型

do/make a drop-off

用法筆記

Commonly paired with 'pick-up' (the reverse action). Often used in logistics, childcare, and school-run contexts. Can be a noun ('do a drop-off') or a modifier ('drop-off zone').

常見錯誤

❌I did a drop-off to the post office.
✅I did a drop-off at the post office.
💡use 'at' for the location, not 'to'.

4. a fixed place, such as a marked area or a container, where people leave packages

4.名詞B2
釋義

a fixed place, such as a marked area or a container, where people leave packages or children to be collected later

例句

Leave the library books in the drop-off by the main entrance.

The airport has a separate drop-off for ride-sharing cars near the terminal.

collocation: drop-off for [vehicles/people]

同義詞

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 3: sense 3 is the action of dropping something off; sense 4 is the physical location where you do it. Usually marked with a sign or designated area.

drop-off — verb