free fall

noun

1
: the condition of unrestrained motion in a gravitational field
also : such motion
2
a
: the part of a parachute jump before the parachute opens
b
: a rapid and continuing drop or decline
a free fall in stock prices
free-fall intransitive verb

Examples of free fall in a Sentence

Sales were in free fall.
Recent Examples on the Web Foot Locker stock is in free fall because its profit goal is years away. Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024 But traditional tactics to shore up democracy through elections and institution-building have fallen short for decades, with barometers of global freedom in free fall. Suzanne Nossel, Foreign Affairs, 29 Feb. 2024 Consumption of physical media has been on a free fall for over a decade, coinciding with the widespread availability of streaming services and digital rentals and purchases. Amrita Khalid, The Verge, 20 Feb. 2024 By the early 1990s, Mr. Mulroney’s political fortunes were in free fall. Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 Fake meat has, after all, been in free fall for months, and many consumers commented beneath the brand’s Instagram announcement that an avocado allergy would prevent them from buying Beyond IV. Marnie Shure / The Takeout, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2024 The Warriors get eight more games to stop the free fall. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2024 Creator Lee Sung Jin puts his leads, Amy (Ali Wong) and Danny (Steven Yeun), through an agonizing existential free fall, peeling back the layers on lifetimes of disappointment and resentment. Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2023 That’s when the politics and the fighting really got started and everything was in a free fall. J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'free fall.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of free fall was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near free fall

Cite this Entry

“Free fall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20fall. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

free-fall

noun
ˈfrē-ˈfȯl
: a condition of falling freely (as before opening one's parachute)

Medical Definition

free fall

noun
: the condition of unrestrained motion in a gravitational field
also : such motion

More from Merriam-Webster on free fall

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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