fallen

[ faw-luhn ]

verb

1. past participle of fall.

adjective

1. having dropped or come down from a higher place, from an upright position, or from a higher level, degree, amount, quality, value, number, etc.
2. on the ground; prostrate; down flat:

   Exhausted, the racers lay fallen by the road.

3. degraded or immoral.
4. (of a woman) having lost her chastity.
5. overthrown, destroyed, or conquered:

   a fallen city.

6. dead:

   fallen troops.

fallen

/ ˈfɔːlən /

verb

1. the past participle of fall

adjective

1. having sunk in reputation or honour

   a fallen woman

2. killed in battle with glory

   our fallen heroes

3. defeated

Other Words From

• un·fallen adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fallen¹

First recorded before 900, for the adjective

Example Sentences

"Bottom line, it's not a good story," he will say, describing how productivity has fallen since the 2008 economic crash and has not recovered since.

From BBC

Jeanne de la Motte, a noblewoman fallen on hard times, pretended to be French Queen and tricked a cardinal into giving her the necklace, without paying.

From BBC

International recruitment has also fallen, with overall visa applications down by about 16% this year, and 20% fewer applications from India alone.

From BBC

Just 18 minutes later, Mr Stockton rang 999 to report Charlie had fallen unconscious.

From BBC

Nursery staff first noticed bruises on Charlie's head in April, and in May the toddler was taken to hospital as he had bruises across his face, with Ms Roberts telling doctors her son had fallen, the court heard.

From BBC

Related Words

• collapsed
• decayed