fall

/fɔːl/ (bre, ipa) · /fɔːl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfȯl/ (ame, mw) · /fɑːl/ (ame, ipa)

fall — 動詞

  • fallpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • fallshe / she / it
  • fellpast simple
  • fallenpast participle
  • falling-ing form

1. to drop down suddenly and without meaning to when your body is upright, hitting

1.動詞不及物A1
釋義

跌倒

不小心失去平衡而摔倒

to drop down suddenly and without meaning to when your body is upright, hitting the ground or another surface — used when someone trips, slips, or loses control of their body

例句

Kwame slipped on the wet floor and fell, hurting his elbow.

Kwame 在濕滑的地板上滑倒，摔傷了手肘。

intransitive: fall + sentence-final position (no object)

The toddler took a few steps and then fell onto the soft carpet.

那幼兒走了幾步，便跌倒在柔軟的地毯上。

fall + onto [surface]

同義詞
  • tumble

    less common, often suggests rolling or an awkward fall

  • collapse

    suggests falling from weakness or a structure giving way, not from tripping

反義詞
  • rise

    to get up after falling; also opposite in direction

  • stand

    to stay upright without falling

文法句型

fall + [preposition/phrase of direction or place]

用法筆記

This sense is always intransitive — you cannot 'fall something'. The past tense is 'fell' and the past participle is 'fallen'. Very common with prepositions of location or direction: fall off, fall onto, fall down, fall in.

常見錯誤

❌I dropped on the floor.
✅I fell on the floor.
💡'drop' is transitive (you drop something); 'fall' is intransitive (you fall yourself).
❌She felled from the ladder.
✅She fell from the ladder.
💡'fell' as a verb means 'to cut down' (a tree); the past tense of 'fall' is 'fell'.

2. to drop so that your face or the front of your body hits the ground or another s

2.動詞不及物B1
釋義

趴倒

臉部朝下摔倒

to drop so that your face or the front of your body hits the ground or another surface first

例句

Rodrigo tripped over the rug and fell flat on his face.

Rodrigo 被地毯絆倒，整個人趴倒在地。

fall flat on one's face

The runner stumbled at the finish line and fell forward onto the track.

那位跑者在終點線前絆倒，整個人向前撲倒在跑道上。

同義詞
  • fall flat

    the most common fixed phrase for landing face down

文法句型

fall + flat/forward/face down

fall + [preposition] + face/front

用法筆記

Often appears in the fixed phrase 'fall flat on your face'. The emphasis is on the position of landing, not the cause of the fall.

3. If an amount, price, temperature, or level drops, it goes down to a smaller numb

3.動詞不及物B1
釋義

下降

數量、程度或強度變低

If an amount, price, temperature, or level drops, it goes down to a smaller number or a less strong state.

例句

The temperature fell sharply after the sun went down.

太陽下山後，氣溫急遽下降。

fall + [adverb of degree]

House prices in the area have fallen by almost ten percent.

該地區的房價已經下跌了將近一成。

fall + by [amount]

同義詞
  • drop

    more informal and often used for sudden decreases

  • decline

    more formal, suggests a gradual or steady decrease

反義詞
  • rise

    to go up in amount, level, or value

  • increase

    to become larger in number or amount

文法句型

fall + by [amount]

fall + from [amount] + to [amount]

fall + [adverb of degree]

用法筆記

Commonly followed by 'by' to indicate the size of the decrease: fall by 10%, fall by half. The opposite of this sense is 'rise' or 'increase'. Do not use this sense for physical height (use 'go down' or 'descend').

常見錯誤

❌The price has fallen with 20%.
✅The price has fallen by 20%.
💡use 'by', not 'with', to show the amount of decrease.

4. to drop down through the air from above, pulled towards the ground by gravity —

4.動詞不及物A2
釋義

落下

從高處往下掉落

to drop down through the air from above, pulled towards the ground by gravity — used for rain, snow, leaves, or other objects moving downwards.

例句

Snow fell gently on the rooftops of the old town.

雪花輕輕飄落在舊城區的屋頂上。

fall + gently / quietly (adverb of manner)

Leaves fall from the trees in early autumn every year.

每年初秋，樹葉就會從樹上落下。

同義詞
  • drop

    suggests a shorter or more controlled downward movement

  • descend

    more formal, implies a gradual downward path

反義詞

文法句型

fall + from/through/onto [place]

fall + [adverb of direction]

用法筆記

This sense is about things moving downward through air or water — not about people losing balance (see sense 1). 'Fall gently', 'fall straight down', and 'fall like [something]' are common patterns.

常見錯誤

❌The airplane fell to the ground' (for a normal landing).
✅The airplane descended / came down to the ground.
💡'fall' suggests an accident, not a controlled movement.

5. to bend your legs and lower your body until your knees are on the ground, often

5.動詞不及物B1
釋義

跪下

跪下來表示尊敬或感謝

to bend your legs and lower your body until your knees are on the ground, often as a sign of respect, worship, or strong emotion

例句

The knight fell to one knee before the queen.

騎士在女王面前單膝跪地。

fall + to + [body part]

Hui fell to her knees and begged for forgiveness.

Hui 跪下來懇求原諒。

fall to one's knees

同義詞
  • kneel

    describes the position already on the knees, not the action of getting there

反義詞
  • stand up

    to rise from a kneeling position

文法句型

fall + to + [body part]

fall + on + [body part]

用法筆記

The most common collocation is 'fall to your knees'. 'Fall on your knees' also occurs. This sense is intentional — unlike sense 1, the person chooses to fall down onto their knees.

常見錯誤

❌She felled down on her knees.
✅She fell to her knees.
💡'fell' as a transitive verb means 'to cut down'; the intransitive past of 'fall' is 'fell'.

6. if the curtain in a theatre falls, it moves downwards to hide the stage at the e

6.動詞不及物B2
釋義

落幕

劇場的布幕降下，表演結束

if the curtain in a theatre falls, it moves downwards to hide the stage at the end of a performance, signalling that the play or show is over

例句

When the curtain fell, the audience clapped for five full minutes.

布幕落下時，觀眾整整鼓掌了五分鐘。

when + the curtain falls

The curtain fell just as the actors took their final bow.

就在演員們最後一次謝幕時，布幕降了下來。

同義詞
  • come down

    a more general way to describe the curtain's movement

反義詞
  • rise

    the curtain rises at the start of a performance

文法句型

the curtain falls

when the curtain falls

用法筆記

This is a fixed expression — only the theatre curtain 'falls'. You cannot say 'the curtain fell down'. This sense is also used metaphorically in writing to signal the end of an era or event.

7. to be part of a certain group, category, or field of activity

7.動詞不及物B2
釋義

屬於；歸類

屬於某個類別或範疇

to be part of a certain group, category, or field of activity

例句

The documents fall into three main groups: personal, financial, and legal.

這些文件分屬於三大類：個人、財務和法律。

fall + into + category noun phrase

This question falls under the heading of international trade law.

這個問題屬於國際貿易法的範疇。

fall + under + heading/field noun

同義詞

文法句型

fall + into/under/within + noun phrase

用法筆記

Commonly followed by 'into', 'under', or 'within' to show which group something belongs to. This sense typically does not use the continuous form ('is falling into').

常見錯誤

❌This falls to the category of mammals.
✅This falls into the category of mammals.
💡'fall to' means 'become someone's responsibility'; use 'fall into' for classification.

8. to move into a different state or condition, often without planning or control

8.動詞不及物B2
釋義

陷入；進入

進入某種（新）狀態

to move into a different state or condition, often without planning or control

例句

Mert fell asleep on the train after a long day at work.

Mert 在漫長的一天工作後，在火車上睡著了。

fall + asleep — common state-change collocation

Iris fell in love with the old town during her very first visit.

Iris 第一次造訪時就愛上了那座古城。

fall + in love — emotional state change

同義詞
  • become

    much more general; 'fall' adds the nuance of suddenness or passiveness

  • go

    informal; 'go silent', 'go crazy' — similar but slightly more active

反義詞
  • stay

    to remain in the same state

文法句型

fall + adjective

fall + into/in + noun phrase

用法筆記

Commonly used with a limited set of adjectives (asleep, silent, ill, due, pregnant) and nouns following 'into' (disrepair, ruin, decay, disuse, a coma). Often describes a sudden or passive change that the subject does not control.

常見錯誤

❌She fell angrily when she heard the news.
✅She fell silent when she heard the news.
💡'fall' in this sense pairs with specific state adjectives (silent, ill, asleep), not general emotions.

9. to be defeated, to lose a position of authority or power, or to fail completely

9.動詞不及物B2
釋義

垮臺；失敗

被打敗或失去權力

to be defeated, to lose a position of authority or power, or to fail completely

例句

The government fell after losing the support of its coalition partners.

該政府在失去聯合夥伴的支持後垮臺了。

fall = lose power (of a government)

The Roman Empire finally fell after centuries of ruling much of Europe.

羅馬帝國在統治歐洲大部分地區數個世紀後，終究滅亡了。

同義詞
  • collapse

    more dramatic; suggests sudden and complete failure

  • be overthrown

    specifically of governments or rulers, often by force

反義詞
  • survive

    to continue to exist despite difficulties

  • prevail

    formal; to win or succeed

文法句型

fall + adverb/preposition

用法筆記

Typically used of governments, leaders, political parties, empires, and large institutions. Not used for individual defeat in sports or games — use 'lose' or 'be defeated' instead.

常見錯誤

❌The team fell 3–0 in the final.
✅The team lost 3
💡0 in the final.' — For sports, use 'lose' or 'be defeated'; 'fall' for defeat is reserved for regimes, empires, and institutions.

10. when a place like a town or fortress is captured by opposing forces during a war

10.動詞不及物B2
釋義

淪陷；失守

（城市或要塞）被敵軍攻佔

when a place like a town or fortress is captured by opposing forces during a war or election

例句

The city fell to the enemy after a siege that lasted six months.

該城市在長達六個月的圍城之後淪陷於敵軍之手。

fall + to + conqueror — place captured in war

The ancient fortress fell when the attackers discovered a hidden tunnel beneath the walls.

那座古老的堡壘在攻擊者發現城牆下的祕密通道後失守。

同義詞
  • be captured

    more general; can be used for people and objects, not just places

  • be taken

    slightly less formal than 'fall' in this context

反義詞

文法句型

fall + to + noun phrase

用法筆記

Used specifically of geographic or strategic locations (cities, forts, capitals, castles) in the context of war or political takeover. The captor is introduced by 'to', and the cause or manner by a following clause or phrase.

常見錯誤

❌The army fell the city in one night.
✅The city fell to the army in one night.
💡'Fall' is intransitive; the place falls, not the attacker. Use 'capture' or 'take' as the transitive verb.

11. if a soldier falls, he or she is killed while fighting in a war

11.動詞不及物B2
釋義

陣亡；戰死

（士兵）在戰鬥中犧牲

if a soldier falls, he or she is killed while fighting in a war

例句

Many brave soldiers fell during the Battle of the Somme in the First World War.

許多勇敢的士兵在第一次世界大戰的索姆河戰役中陣亡。

fall + during + battle — die in combat

Tariro's great-grandfather fell in combat during the war of independence.

Tariro 的曾祖父在獨立戰爭中作戰陣亡。

同義詞
  • be killed

    neutral and more general; can be used in any context

  • die in action

    military term for death during combat operations

反義詞
  • survive

    to continue living through a dangerous situation

文法句型

fall + in/at + battle/location

用法筆記

A formal or literary word for 'die in battle'. Frequently used in historical writing, war memorials, and commemorative language. Never used for accidental death outside of combat.

常見錯誤

❌He fell off his horse during the war and died.
✅He fell in battle during the war.
💡'Fall' meaning 'die in battle' is reserved for combat death, not accidental death.

12. in the sport of cricket, the stumps are said to fall when the bowler or a fielde

12.動詞不及物C1
釋義

擊球手出局

（板球）三柱門被擊倒，擊球員退場

in the sport of cricket, the stumps are said to fall when the bowler or a fielder dismisses a batter, ending their time at the crease

例句

The third wicket fell just before lunch, putting the team in serious trouble.

第三個三柱門在午餐前被攻破，讓球隊陷入嚴重困境。

wicket + fall = batter is out

The opening batter's wicket fell early when he edged the ball to the wicketkeeper.

開路擊球員在三柱門早早被攻破，當時他把球擊向了守門員。

文法句型

wicket + fall + adverb

用法筆記

A technical cricket term. Only the wicket 'falls', not the batter. Used in match commentary and written reports. Outside of cricket this sense does not apply.

常見錯誤

❌The player fell in the first over.
✅The wicket fell in the first over.
💡In cricket terminology, the wicket falls, not the player.

13. (of an event, holiday, or special day) to happen on a particular date or during

13.動詞不及物B1
釋義

落在；適逢

節日或活動在特定日期發生

(of an event, holiday, or special day) to happen on a particular date or during a particular period of time.

例句

Chinese New Year falls in late January or February every year.

農曆新年每年都落在一月下旬或二月。

fall + in + month/season

The graduation ceremony falls on a Friday this year, so Nia's parents will watch.

今年的畢業典禮適逢星期五，所以 Nia 的父母會來觀禮。

fall + on + specific day

同義詞
  • occur

    more formal; 'fall' is more natural for recurring dates and holidays

  • take place

    formal, used for events rather than calendar dates

文法句型

fall + on/in/at + (time/place)

用法筆記

Commonly used with the prepositions on, in, or at to indicate the date, month, or season of an annual or planned event.

14. To hang down in a loose or natural way, especially because of weight or gravity.

14.動詞不及物B1
釋義

垂落；披垂

頭髮或布料鬆鬆地往下垂

To hang down in a loose or natural way, especially because of weight or gravity.

例句

Élise's dark hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders as she read quietly.

Élise 的深色秀髮成柔和的波浪垂落在肩上，她靜靜地讀著書。

hair + falls + over/across/down

The velvet curtains fell to the floor on both sides of the stage.

天鵝絨窗簾從舞台兩側垂落到地板上。

同義詞
  • hang

    more general; 'fall' adds a sense of natural draping or flowing movement

  • drape

    more decorative, used for fabric arranged in a careful way

文法句型

fall + preposition/adverb

用法筆記

Subject is typically hair, cloth, fabric, or plant material. Often used with location words like 'over', 'across', 'down', 'into'.

常見錯誤

❌The rope falls down from the ceiling.' (sounds like accidental dropping)
✅The rope hangs down from the ceiling.
💡For objects that are intentionally positioned, 'hang' is the more neutral verb; 'fall' suggests a draping or flowing quality.

15. If someone's face falls, their expression suddenly changes to show that they are

15.動詞不及物B2
釋義

臉色一沉

表情突然變得失望或難過

If someone's face falls, their expression suddenly changes to show that they are disappointed, sad, or shocked by what they have just seen or heard.

例句

When Tariq heard that the trip was cancelled, his face fell.

Tariq 聽到旅遊取消時，臉色一沉。

face + falls + after bad news

Mia's face fell as she read the rejection letter from her dream university.

Mia 讀著理想大學的拒絕信時，臉色一沉。

同義詞
  • sink

    e.g. 'Her heart sank' — describes the feeling; 'face falls' describes the visible reaction

反義詞
  • light up

    'His face lit up' — the opposite, showing joy or excitement

文法句型

[possessive] face + falls

用法筆記

This expression is fixed; 'face' is nearly always the subject. It is used only about a change of expression that happens in response to disappointing news or a sudden realisation.

常見錯誤

❌His mood fell when he heard the news.
✅His face fell when he heard the news.
💡'Face falls' describes a visible expression, not an emotional state.

16. To slope downward from a higher position to a lower position, used especially of

16.動詞不及物B1
釋義

傾斜；下斜

地形或路徑向低處延伸

To slope downward from a higher position to a lower position, used especially of land, paths, and terrain.

例句

The garden falls gently toward the river at the bottom of the hill.

花園緩緩向山腳的河邊傾斜。

land + falls + toward [direction]

The path falls steeply for about two hundred metres before reaching the old stone bridge.

這條小路陡峭地向下延伸約兩百公尺，然後抵達那座古老的石橋。

同義詞
  • slope

    neutral; 'fall' adds a sense of the natural shape of the land

  • descend

    more formal, used for roads, stairs, and paths

  • drop

    more dramatic, suggesting a sudden steep change in height

反義詞
  • rise

    to go upward, the opposite of falling terrain

文法句型

fall + adverb/preposition

用法筆記

Often used with directional prepositions such as 'toward', 'away', 'into', and 'to'. The phrasal form 'fall away' is very common for describing ground that slopes steeply downward.

fall — 名詞

fall — 形容詞