drop-off

1 of 2

noun

ˈdräp-ˌȯf 

1

: a very steep or perpendicular descent

2

: a marked dwindling or decline

a drop-off in attendance

3

: the act or an instance of making a usually brief deposit or delivery

drop-off points along the route

drop off

2 of 2

verb

ˌdräp-ˈȯf 

dropped off; dropping off; drops off

intransitive verb

: to fall asleep

Synonyms

Noun

• abatement
• decline
• decrease
• decrement
• dent
• depletion
• depression
• diminishment
• diminution
• drop
• fall
• falloff
• loss
• reduction
• shrinkage
• step-down

Examples of drop-off in a Sentence

Noun

the drop-off in movie attendance was the greatest in more than a decade

Verb

my interest in photography has dropped off over the years

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While a slowdown in Americans’ average wage growth is the main reason for the drop-off in overall income gains, other cash wellsprings such as company profits, corporate dividend payouts and bank interest payments are also throttling back. —Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025

Denver Broncos outside linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite is accused of punching a police officer in the face at the drop-off line at Denver International Airport on Sunday, according to court records. —Shelly Bradbury, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025

Verb

Donations at the North Aurora Goddard School can be dropped off at the building at 301 Miller Drive. —David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025

If Mihailovic makes the USMNT roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer, the Rapids cannot drop off a cliff when that time comes. —Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1812, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for drop-off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff