Drop: meaning, definition, and synonyms

Drop is a very common English word with many meanings. It can refer to a small amount of liquid, a sudden decrease, a fall downward, or the act of letting something fall. It is also used in several idiomatic and technical senses.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /drɑp/

Easy pronunciation: DROP (approximate spelling).

Stress: One syllable, stressed on the only syllable.

Verb meaning to go down in value.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Drop Meaning

to decrease or fall in value, amount, or level

Part of speech: verb

Definition: go down in value

Example: Stock prices dropped after the announcement.

Synonyms for this meaning:

dip — Works for a small decrease, but is less strong than drop.
fall — A direct and common substitute in many contexts.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Drop

Meaning 2

to let something fall from your hand or hold

Part of speech: verb

Definition: let fall to the ground

Example: Don't drop the dishes.

Meaning 3

a very small amount of liquid

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a small indefinite quantity (especially of a liquid)

Example: Add a drop of lemon juice.

Synonyms for this meaning:

driblet — A small amount, but more formal and less common.
drib — Rare and limited in everyday use.

Meaning 4

a quick, noticeable decrease

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a sudden sharp decrease in some quantity

Example: There was a drop in temperature overnight.

Synonyms for this meaning:

dip — A very natural synonym for a small or brief decrease.
fall — Works well when talking about numbers or levels.
free fall — Usually suggests a very steep or dramatic decrease.

Meaning 5

to move downward to a lower position

Part of speech: verb

Definition: fall or descend to a lower place or level

Example: The path drops steeply to the river.

Synonyms for this meaning:

sink — Works in some contexts, especially for moving lower or downward.
drop down — A direct phrase meaning to move downward.

Meaning 6

a sudden downward fall from a height

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a free and rapid descent by the force of gravity

Example: He survived the drop from the cliff.

Synonyms for this meaning:

fall — A common equivalent for a downward descent.

Meaning 7

to make liquid fall little by little

Part of speech: verb

Definition: let or cause to fall in drops

Example: The faucet kept dripping all night.

Synonyms for this meaning:

dribble — Often means to let liquid fall slowly in small amounts.
drip — A close match for liquid falling in small drops.

Meaning 8

to end a relationship or connection with someone

Part of speech: verb

Definition: stop associating with

Example: They dropped her after the scandal.

Synonyms for this meaning:

dismiss — Can work in some contexts, but often implies formally letting someone go.
send away — Possible in informal contexts, but not always a direct substitute.
send packing — Informal and stronger in tone than drop.

Meaning 9

to spend money

Part of speech: verb

Definition: pay out

Example: He dropped a lot of money on the new car.

Synonyms for this meaning:

expend — More formal than drop.
spend — A direct everyday substitute.

Meaning 10

to discard or remove something

Part of speech: verb

Definition: get rid of

Example: Try to drop the extra weight before summer.

Synonyms for this meaning:

cast off — Works for removing or letting go of something, but is more literary.
shake off — Often used for getting rid of something unwanted.
shed — A good match when something is being discarded or lost.
throw away — Common and practical in everyday English.
throw off — Works when something is being removed or escaped from.

Meaning 11

to knock something or someone down

Part of speech: verb

Definition: cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

Example: The boxer dropped his opponent in the third round.

Synonyms for this meaning:

cut down — Can mean knocking someone down, but is context-dependent.
fell — A strong substitute in this sense.
strike down — Works better in formal or forceful contexts.

Meaning 12

to hang down loosely

Part of speech: verb

Definition: hang freely

Example: The necklace dropped below her collarbone.

Synonyms for this meaning:

dangle — A close match for hanging freely.
swing — Can fit when something hangs and moves loosely.

Meaning 13

a steep cliff or edge

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a steep high face of rock

Example: The trail runs along a sheer drop.

Synonyms for this meaning:

cliff — A direct and common equivalent in many contexts.
drop-off — A strong synonym for a steep descent or edge.

Meaning 14

to stop doing or continuing something

Part of speech: verb

Definition: stop pursuing or acting

Example: They dropped the lawsuit after reaching a settlement.

Synonyms for this meaning:

knock off — Informal; can mean stop doing something.

Meaning 15

to omit something

Part of speech: verb

Definition: leave undone or leave out

Example: You can drop the last paragraph if you need to shorten it.

Synonyms for this meaning:

leave out — A direct and common substitute.
miss — Can work, but may also mean fail to notice or reach.
neglect — Related, but often implies failure to do something important.
omit — A precise and common synonym.
overlook — Can mean omit by mistake, but is less exact.

Meaning 16

a stage curtain or backdrop

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a curtain that can be lowered and raised onto a stage from the flies; often used as background scenery

Example: The set included a painted drop behind the actors.

Synonyms for this meaning:

drop cloth — Can refer to a stage covering, but is not identical in all uses.
drop curtain — A direct theatrical term.

Meaning 17

to make a note lower in pitch

Part of speech: verb

Definition: lower the pitch of (musical notes)

Example: The singer dropped the final note by a half step.

Synonyms for this meaning:

flatten — The standard musical synonym.

Meaning 18

to move into another style, register, or level

Part of speech: verb

Definition: change from one level to another

Example: She dropped into a local accent while talking to her family.

Meaning 19

to become exhausted or collapse

Part of speech: verb

Definition: fall or sink into a state of exhaustion or death

Example: After the marathon, he dropped onto the sofa and slept for hours.

Meaning 20

to give birth, especially for an animal

Part of speech: verb

Definition: give birth; used for animals

Example: The mare dropped a healthy foal overnight.

Meaning 21

to lose a match or game

Part of speech: verb

Definition: lose (a game)

Example: The team dropped its first three games.

Meaning 22

to leave out a sound or letter when speaking or writing

Part of speech: verb

Definition: omit (a letter or syllable) in speaking or writing

Example: Some speakers drop the final 'r' in casual speech.

Meaning 23

to take a drug orally

Part of speech: verb

Definition: take (a drug, especially LSD), by mouth

Example: He admitted that he had dropped acid as a teenager.

Meaning 24

to remove someone from a group, list, or position

Part of speech: verb

Definition: terminate an association with

Example: The party dropped him from the ticket.

Meaning 25

the action of letting something fall

Part of speech: noun

Definition: the act of dropping something

Example: The drop was timed perfectly.

Meaning 26

to fall straight down

Part of speech: verb

Definition: to fall vertically

Example: The bombs dropped on the target area.

Meaning 27

to mention something casually or unexpectedly

Part of speech: verb

Definition: utter with seeming casualness

Example: He dropped a hint about the surprise party.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Drop Synonyms

Similar Meaning

fall
dip

small amount of liquid

driblet

small decrease

dip
fall
free fall

move downward

drop down
sink

liquid falling in small drops

drip
dribble

end a relationship or connection

dismiss
send away
send packing

spend money

spend
expend

discard or get rid of

throw away
shed
throw off
cast off
shake off

knock down or strike down

fell
cut down
strike down

hang loosely

dangle
swing

a steep cliff or edge

cliff
drop-off

omit something

leave out
omit
neglect
overlook
miss

stage curtain or backdrop

drop curtain
drop cloth

lower musical pitch

flatten

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

Do not confuse the noun drop meaning 'a small amount of liquid' with the verb drop meaning 'to let something fall.'
In music, drop can mean lowering pitch, not making a sound softer.
In casual speech, drop can mean 'mention' or 'mention casually,' as in drop a hint.
Drop can also be slang for taking a drug by mouth, especially acid, but that is a specialized sense.
Not every 'drop' phrase means 'fall' literally; many are idiomatic or technical.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main meaning of drop?

The most common everyday meaning is to let something fall or to fall downward. It also very often means to decrease, especially in value, number, or level.

What are the best synonyms for drop?

For the main everyday senses, good synonyms include fall, dip, and sometimes sink or descend, depending on the context.

Is drop always a verb?

No. Drop can be a verb, as in 'drop the glass,' or a noun, as in 'a drop of water' or 'a drop in prices.'

Can drop mean 'omit'?

Yes. In some contexts, drop means to leave something out, such as a letter, word, or paragraph.

What does drop mean in 'drop a hint'?

Here, drop means to mention something casually or indirectly.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.