fall below

fall below — phrasal verb

  • fall belowbase form
  • falls below3rd person singular
  • falling below-ing form
  • fell belowpast simple
  • fallen belowpast participle

1. to go down to a point beneath a certain minimum or standard — used about numbers

1.片語動詞及物B2
釋義

to go down to a point beneath a certain minimum or standard — used about numbers, quantities, temperatures, quality, or performance that become less than an expected or acceptable level.

例句

Temperatures in the region are expected to fall below zero tonight, so Antonia covered her plants with plastic sheets.

collocation: fall below zero

When blood oxygen levels fall below 90%, doctors usually provide extra oxygen to the patient.

collocation: fall below [medical threshold]

同義詞
  • drop below

    more common in informal speech than 'fall below'

  • sink below

    often implies a gradual decrease, especially of liquids or morale

  • dip below

    suggests a temporary or slight drop

反義詞
  • rise above

    opposite direction of movement

  • exceed

    more formal; opposite of staying below a threshold

文法句型

fall below + noun phrase (measurable quantity)

用法筆記

Usually used with measurable quantities (temperature, level, score, profit, rate); rarely with physical objects. This phrasal verb does not appear in the passive voice.

常見錯誤

The temperature fell below the table.
The temperature fell below zero.
💡'fall below' is used for numerical or measurable levels, not for physical position below an object.