free fall

NOUN

rapid decline or descent

Synonyms

WEAK

collapse decline dive drop nosedive plummet plummeting plunge sag slump

Antonyms

WEAK

upturn

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The conjoined entrance into the NBA of Bird and Magic in 1979 went a long way toward saving a league in free fall.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

Software and services stocks have been in free fall for weeks, dragging the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF to the lowest levels in nearly a year and more than 30% from its mid-September peak.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

But home values are not in a free fall.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 7, 2025

But gifted playwrights know how to read the signs of a society in free fall.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2025

It was a long way down, and Tally’s stomach already seemed to be in free fall.

From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld