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

The recent free fall in software stocks has spilled over to the chip sector, and a Bank of America analyst says the selling doesn’t make sense.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 4, 2026

Yet, as we approach this milestone, we find ourselves not in a moment of reflection or rededication, but in a state of legal free fall.

From Slate • Jul. 16, 2025

Her mood had been in free fall since Mr. Donnelly’s departure.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman