fell
/fel/ (bre, ipa) · /fel/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfel/ (ame, mw)
fell — verb
1. The form of the verb 'fall' that is used to talk about something that happened i
The form of the verb 'fall' that is used to talk about something that happened in the past — for example, when someone dropped to the ground or something went down by itself.
Minh slipped on the wet floor and fell sideways onto the carpet.
fell + adverb of direction (sideways, backwards, forward)
The temperature in the valley fell by nearly ten degrees overnight.
fell + by + [amount/number]
All the ripe apples fell from the tree during last night's storm.
The old woman stumbled over the curb and fell to her knees.
Hugo's face fell when he heard the train had already left.
- dropped
Dropped is more deliberate — you can drop something on purpose; 'fell' is always accidental or natural.
- tumbled
Tumbled suggests rolling or turning over as you fall; less common in everyday speech.
- collapsed
Collapsed implies something gave way from underneath (building, structure, person) rather than simply moving downward.
文法句型
fell (irregular past form of fall)
用法筆記
Fell is the past tense of 'fall'; the past participle is 'fallen'. This form is used with all subjects (I fell, she fell, they fell) and can express physical dropping, temperature decrease, or emotional disappointment (e.g. face fell).
常見錯誤
2. To cut through the trunk of a tree at its base so that it falls to the ground, u
To cut through the trunk of a tree at its base so that it falls to the ground, usually as part of forestry work or land clearing.
The forestry team felled nearly a hundred pine trees to make way for the new road.
fell + [number] + [type of tree]
A single worker can fell a moderate-sized birch in under fifteen minutes with a chainsaw.
The diseased elm was felled before it could infect the other trees in the park.
Residents protested when the council decided to fell the ancient oak on the village green.
- chop down
Chop down emphasises using an axe (chopping motion) rather than sawing, but is used informally for any method.
- cut down
Cut down is a more general term that also works for bushes, plants, or grass — 'fell' is specific to trees.
- log
Log means to cut trees into logs after felling; it is a separate step in the process.
- plant
To plant a tree is the opposite action to felling one.
文法句型
fell + [tree]
be felled + by + [agent]
用法筆記
This sense is different from the past tense 'fell' (see verb sense 1). It is a regular verb: fell — felled — felled. Used primarily about trees; for knocking down people or animals see verb sense 3.
常見錯誤
3. To hit or trip someone so hard during a game or fight that they fall to the grou
To hit or trip someone so hard during a game or fight that they fall to the ground, often resulting in injury or a penalty.
The defender felled the striker with a sliding tackle just inside the penalty area.
fell + [person] + with + [method]
Darius was felled by a high kick to the chest during the second round of the match.
passive: be felled + by + [blow/action]
The boxer felled his opponent with a powerful right hook to the jaw.
Two opposition players felled the quarterback at the same moment, drawing a foul.
- knock down
Knock down is the everyday equivalent; 'fell' sounds more dramatic and is used mainly in sports commentary.
- tackle
Tackle is a specific sports term (especially in football/rugby) for legally bringing a player down. 'Fell' is broader.
- bring down
Bring down is neutral and can be used for people, animals, or objects — 'fell' is more forceful.
文法句型
fell + [person/player]
be felled + by + [tackle/opponent]
用法筆記
Distinguish from verb sense 2: 'fell' a person means knock them down; 'fell' a tree means cut it down. The past tense is regular (felled — felled), identical to sense 2. In everyday conversation, 'knock down' or 'tackle' is more common than 'fell'.
常見錯誤
fell — noun
1. A hill or wide area of high, open land with few trees, especially found in the n
A hill or wide area of high, open land with few trees, especially found in the northern parts of England and used for hiking or sheep grazing.
We spent the weekend walking the fells near the village of Ambleside.
walk the fells — common activity phrase
Sheep have grazed on these fells for hundreds of years.
A thick fog settled over the fells, and the hikers lost the path completely.
The Lake District is famous for its rugged fells and deep blue lakes.
Rohan stopped at the top of the fell to take a photo of the valley below.
- moor
Moor refers to open, wild land (often flat or gently rolling); a fell is more specifically a hill or mountainous area.
- hill
Hill is the general term; 'fell' is a regional word for a particular type of hill in northern England.
- mountain
Mountain is taller and rockier than most fells; a fell is usually lower and grass-covered.
文法句型
the fells
across the fells
on the fells
用法筆記
This word is heavily associated with the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales in northern England. It is rarely used in American English. 'Fell' often appears in place names (e.g. Scafell Pike, Helvellyn).
常見錯誤
fell — adjective
1. Extremely cruel or evil in a way that causes great suffering or destruction — us
Extremely cruel or evil in a way that causes great suffering or destruction — used in literature and formal writing rather than everyday conversation.
The dictator was remembered for his fell treatment of political prisoners.
A fell disease swept through the town, killing hundreds in a single month.
fell + [disease/disaster] for deadly effect
The old legend tells of a fell creature that lived in the dark forest and preyed on travellers.
There was a fell look in the captain's eyes as he ordered the crew to abandon the burning ship.
- cruel
Cruel is the ordinary word for causing pain; 'fell' is more intense and literary.
- vicious
Vicious emphasises violent intent; 'fell' suggests a broader, more sinister evil.
- malevolent
Malevolent means wishing evil on others; 'fell' implies active destruction rather than just a wish.
- kind
Kind is the ordinary opposite of cruel; 'gentle' could also contrast.
- benevolent
Benevolent is the formal opposite of malevolent/fell.
文法句型
fell + [noun]
用法筆記
This adjective is almost exclusively literary or historical. In modern speech, 'cruel', 'vicious', or 'ruthless' are preferred. The best-known use is in the idiom 'one fell swoop' (see idiom below).
常見錯誤
2. Relating to or characteristic of high, open hill country in northern England — u
Relating to or characteristic of high, open hill country in northern England — used mostly in compound nouns that describe activities or features of that landscape.
The Lake District offers some of the best fell walking in the whole of Britain.
fell walking — common compound noun
Fell farmers have grazed Herdwick sheep on these rocky slopes for centuries.
fell farmer — person who farms on fells
The search party found the missing couple alive on a fell ridge near Helvellyn.
Elena bought a detailed map of the fell paths before setting out on her hike.
文法句型
fell + [noun]
用法筆記
This adjective is derived from the noun 'fell' (hill) and is used almost exclusively before nouns. It does not have comparative forms ('feller', 'fellest') in this sense. Common in British hiking and geography contexts.