drop

SayDROP/dɹɑp/UK/dɹɒp/

Verbdrops, dropping, dropped

Noun pluraldrops

86 meanings of drop

Practice

1
let fall (hand)verbfigurativelytransitive
To let something fall, by letting go of it or losing your grip.
Like letting a ball slip out of your hands.
She dropped her phone on the sidewalk.
Don't drop the eggs!
UsageYou drop a thing, and the thing falls: I dropped my keys.
Oppositecatch, lift
2
bit of liquidnounfigurativelycountable
A tiny round bit of liquid, like one that falls from a leaky faucet.
Like a tiny ball of water hanging from a faucet before it falls.
A drop of rain landed on her nose.
He squeezed a drop of glue onto the paper.
UsageSay a drop of water, rain or glue.
Similardroplet, bead, drip
Note
3
verbintransitive
To go down or become less, or to make something go down or become less.
Like the water level going down when you pull the plug.
Prices drop after the holidays.
The temperature dropped overnight.
UsageSay prices drop by ten percent or drop to five dollars.
Similarfall, decline, decrease, dip, plunge
Oppositerise, increase, climb, soar
4
a declinenouncountable
A fall in how much, how good, or how fast something is.
Like a line on a chart going down.
There was a big drop in sales last month.
We saw a drop in temperature overnight.
UsageSay a drop in sales or prices.
Similarfall, reduction, cut, dip, decline
Oppositerise, increase, growth
5
stop taking partverbtransitive
To stop taking part in a class, event, or plan.
Like quitting a game before it is over.
She decided to drop the class.
He dropped the project after one week.
UsageSay drop a class. Drop out of school means leave school before finishing your studies.
Similarquit, abandon
6
deliververbtransitive
To take someone or something to a place and leave them there.
Can you drop me at the station?
The bakery van drops fresh bread at the café every morning.
UsageSay drop someone off, or drop me at the station.
Similarleave, deposit, deliver
Oppositecollect
7
verbtransitive
To stop having or including someone or something, or to remove them from a team or list.
Like throwing away clothes that don't fit anymore.
You should drop that old habit.
The coach dropped two players from the team.
UsageSay a player is dropped from the team.
Similarabandon, discard, remove, scrap, cut
Oppositekeep, retain, include, add
8
verbfigurativelyintransitive
To fall down, or move down to the ground quickly.
Like a stone falling straight to the bottom of a pond.
The ball dropped straight down into the well.
Leaves drop from the trees each fall.
Similarfall, plunge, plummet, sink, descend
Oppositerise, ascend, climb
9
visit casuallyverbintransitive
To visit a person or place without planning it first.
Like stopping at a friend's house just because you were nearby.
Drop by whenever you like.
She dropped in to say hello.
UsageSay drop by or drop in for a short visit.
Similarpop, stop, call
Note
10
a fallnouncountable
A movement straight down because of gravity, or a fall.
Like the moment a swing rushes back down after going up.
The ride ends with a long drop straight down.
She felt a sudden drop as the elevator started down.
Similarfall
Oppositerise, climb, ascent
11
stop discussingverbtransitive
To stop worrying about or dealing with something.
Like putting down a heavy bag and walking away.
Can we just drop the subject?
He finally dropped the argument and went home.
UsageSay let's drop it to stop talking about something.
Similarabandon, forget, leave
Oppositepursue
Note
12
release publiclyverbcolloquialtransitive
To put out new music, a game, or an app for everyone to get.
Like a store putting a brand-new toy on its shelves for the first time.
The band will drop their new single on Friday.
She wants to drop a video game next year.
UsageYou can say the song drops on Friday.
Similarrelease, launch
Note
13
send a noteverbtransitive
To send a short message or letter in a quick, easy way.
Like quickly slipping a note into a friend's bag as you walk past.
Drop me a message when you get home.
I'll drop her an email tonight.
UsageSay drop me a line or drop me an email.
Similarsend, write, shoot
14
nouncountable
The distance straight down from a high place that you could fall.
Like looking down from the top of a tall ladder.
There's a steep drop on the other side of the fence.
Don't go near the edge, because it's a long drop.
Similarfall, plunge, precipice
15
nounfigurativelycountableplural
Liquid medicine you put in a few drops at a time, like eye drops.
Like medicine you take one tiny drip at a time instead of a spoonful.
The doctor gave her drops for her sore eyes.
Put one drop in each eye at bedtime.
UsageSay put drops in your eyes: one drop in each eye.
Note
16
pick-up pointnouncountable
A place where things are left so that someone else can pick them up.
Like a secret mailbox where one person leaves something and another picks it up.
Leave the keys at the usual drop.
He found the documents waiting at the drop.
Note
17
pass intoverbintransitive
To slowly move into a certain state, like falling asleep.
Like slowly slipping into sleep without even noticing.
The room dropped into silence when she walked in.
Slowly the baby will drop off to sleep.
UsageSay drop off to sleep, or a room drops into silence.
Similarfall, sink, lapse, slip, drift
18
nounfigurativelycountable
Just a little bit of a drink or other liquid, or a tiny amount of anything.
Can I have just a drop more juice, please?
There wasn't a drop of truth in his story.
UsageNot a drop means none at all.
Similarbit, dash, hint, dab, grain
19
verbtransitive
To lose a game or contest, often one you were expected to win.
If we drop this game, we're out of the tournament.
Our team dropped the first match but won the next two.
UsageUse to before the winner: dropped a game to a weaker team.
Similarlose
Oppositewin
Note
20
verbslangtransitive
To spend money, lose it, or hand it over in some other way.
I don't want to drop fifty dollars on a T-shirt.
My uncle dropped a hundred dollars playing cards last night.
UsageSay drop money on something: dropped fifty dollars on a shirt.
Similarspend, blow, lose
Note
21
nouncountable
In video games, a thing that a beaten enemy leaves behind for the player to pick up.
I beat the boss, but its drop was just a few coins.
We fought the same monster ten times, hoping for a rare drop.
Similarloot
Note
22
noun
A sports team's move down to a lower league. People usually say the drop.
Our team has to win this game to avoid the drop.
After the drop, the club had to play smaller teams in a lower league.
UsageSay a team wants to avoid the drop.
Similarrelegation
Oppositepromotion
Note
23
verbintransitive
To end up behind the rest of a group because you can't keep up.
On the long hike, my little brother started to drop behind.
The oldest dog kept dropping to the back of the pack.
UsageSay drop behind when you can't keep up.
Similarfall, lag, slip, trail
24
verbtransitive
To move something to a lower place, or to let it hang down.
Drop your arms to your sides and stand still.
The tired horse dropped its head and closed its eyes.
UsageSay drop your eyes or drop your arms.
Similarlower
Oppositeraise, lift
Note
25
verbslangtransitive
To swallow a drug, most often LSD, as in the phrase drop acid.
His friends wanted him to drop acid, but he said no.
He told me he had dropped acid once, a long time ago.
UsageUsed with acid or pills: drop two pills.
Similartake, pop
26
verbtransitive
To leave out a sound or letter, mostly when speaking but sometimes when writing.
My grandpa drops his h's, so hat sounds like at.
When I type fast, I sometimes drop a letter from a word.
UsageSay people drop their h's when they don't say them.
Similaromit, skip
Note

Less common meanings

27
a deliverynouncountable
A delivery of people or supplies, often dropped from a plane by parachute.
Like a delivery truck bringing boxes, but from the sky by parachute.
The pilots made a supply drop over the flooded town.
Each drop brought food and medicine to the village.
Similarairdrop, delivery
28
a releasenouncountable
A new release of music, a game, or an app for people to buy or play.
Like the first day a new toy goes on sale in stores.
Fans lined up for the midnight drop of the new album.
The studio scheduled the game's drop for early next year.
Similarrelease, launch
29
collapseverbintransitive
To fall down because you are too tired, too hurt, or have died.
Like a phone shutting off the second its battery dies.
After the long march, several soldiers began to drop.
He ran until he nearly dropped from exhaustion.
UsageSay someone dropped from tiredness, or worked until they dropped.
Similarcollapse
30
knock downverbtransitive
To knock down or bring down a person or animal with a hit or shot.
Like a tree falling the moment it is cut through.
One solid punch was enough to drop the larger fighter.
The hunter dropped the deer with a single shot.
Similarfloor, fell, down
Note
31
mention in passingverbtransitive
To mention something in a casual way during a talk.
Like leaving a small clue without making a big deal of it.
She dropped a hint about the surprise party.
Try not to drop any clues about the ending.
UsageSay drop a hint when you suggest something without saying it directly.
Similarmention, slip
Note
32
dance musicnouncountable
The exciting moment in a dance song when the beat and bass suddenly hit hard.
Like the big splash moment on a water slide, right after the slow climb up.
Everyone started dancing when the drop hit.
The crowd waited for the big drop in the song.
Note
33
verbintransitive
To fall in small round drops, the way water comes off a wet cloth.
Like water falling one bead at a time from a wet cloth.
Water began to drop from the ceiling after the storm.
Rain dropped steadily from the edge of the roof.
Similardrip, fall, trickle
Note
34
hard candynouncountable
A small, round, hard piece of candy that you suck on slowly.
Like a small button-sized candy that melts slowly in your mouth.
She sucked on a hard, sugary drop until it melted away.
Grandma always kept a few lemon drops in her purse.
Similarlozenge, pastille, sweet, candy
35
advantagenouncolloquial
An advantage over someone, used only in 'get the drop on' or 'have the drop on'.
Like seeing the other team's game plan before the match starts.
The detective got the drop on the suspect before he could run.
She had the drop on her rivals because she knew the plan.
Similaredge, jump, advantage
36
nounAustraliaBritish
A little bit of something alcoholic to drink, like whiskey.
37
nounBritish
Strong alcoholic drinks in general, usually called the drop.
38
nouncolloquialIreland
One glass or shot of whiskey.
39
noun
A small decoration that hangs down from part of a building.
40
noun
A little metal flap that covers a keyhole until you move it.
41
noun
A fruit that fell off the tree by itself.
42
noun
In American football, a pass a player should have caught but didn't.
43
noun
The floor that opens under someone being hanged, or the gallows.
44
noun
A machine that lets heavy things down, or brings a lamp lower.
45
noun
A machine that shapes metal with a falling weight, short for drop hammer.
46
noun
A theater curtain or painted cloth that comes down onto the stage.
47
noun
All the cash players hand over for chips at a casino.
48
nouncolloquial
Being hanged as a punishment.
49
noun
The steps a quarterback takes back before throwing.
50
noun
A pinball target that falls down when hit.
51
noun
In rugby, a kick made by dropping the ball and kicking it as it bounces.
52
noun
The steep ride down the front of a wave in surfing.
53
noundatedUS
A credit card a bank sends you without you asking.
54
noun
In men's clothes, how much smaller the waist is than the chest.
55
noun
In women's sizing, how much the bust and hip sizes differ.
56
noun
How long a curtain is from top to bottom.
57
noun
How far a shaft hangs below its support.
58
noun
How far someone falls when they are hanged.
59
noun
How tall a square sail is.
60
noun
Licorice sweets.
61
nounslangUS
A car whose roof can fold down.
62
noun
In cricket, a batting place after the first two batters.
63
verb
In games, of a reward, to show up after you beat an enemy.
64
verb
To stop because nobody continues it.
65
verb
Of music, to get lower or slower.
66
verb
Of a voice, to get deeper as a boy grows up.
67
verb
To stop betting in a card game.
68
verbcolloquial
Of testicles, to hang lower at puberty.
69
verbobsolete
To drip, a little at a time.
70
verb
To let a liquid drip out a little at a time.
71
verb
In games, of an enemy or box, to leave something for the player.
72
verb
To pull your pants down fast, often in public.
73
verb
To cook food by putting it in hot oil or on a grill.
74
verb
To give birth, said mostly of sheep, or to lay eggs, said of birds.
75
verb
To make your voice quieter or lower.
76
verb
To make a guitar string sound deeper.
77
verbslang
To use fake money or fake checks.
78
verbslang
To share what you know with other people.
79
verb
To play a song, like a DJ.
80
verb
To rap a verse.
81
verb
In cricket, to give a batter another chance by failing to hold a catch.
82
verb
To get a goal by letting the ball fall from your hands and kicking it as it bounces.
83
verbarchaic
To cover something with colored spots.
their waved coats dropped with gold
1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost
84
verb
To go to a simpler computer screen or command line.
85
verb
To send a user to a simpler computer screen.
86
verbslangSingaporeUS
To make someone do floor exercises such as push-ups as punishment, or to be made to.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of drop apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 2, 4, 10, 14–16, 18, 21–22, 27–28, 32, 34–35

It comes from the Old English word "dropa," meaning a drop of liquid.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

The noun drop comes from Old English dropa, meaning a drop of liquid. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1, 3, 5–9, 11–13, 17, 19–20, 23–26, 29–31, 33

It comes from the Old English verb "dropian," meaning to drop, which was formed from the word "dropa" (a drop).

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

The verb descends from Old English dropian, meaning “to drop”. en.wiktionary.org
Old English dropian was formed from dropa. en.wiktionary.org
Old English dropa means “a drop”. en.wiktionary.org