drop-off

[ drop-awf, -of ]

noun

1. a vertical or very steep descent:

   The trail has a drop-off of several hundred feet.

2. a decline; decrease:

   Sales have shown a considerable drop-off this year.

3. a place where a person or thing can be left, received, accommodated, etc.:

   a new drop-off for outpatients.

adjective

1. applied when a rented vehicle is left elsewhere than at the point of hire:

   to pay a drop-off charge.

drop off

verb

1. intr to grow smaller or less; decline
2. tr to allow to alight; set down
3. informal.
   intr to fall asleep

noun

1. a steep or vertical descent
2. a sharp decrease

Word History and Origins

Origin of drop-off¹

First recorded in 1955–60; noun, adj. use of verb phrase drop off

Example Sentences

In it, she hinted at a rift with her mother, who she found had dropped off a bundle of warm clothes for her father in jail, weeks after his crimes came to light.

From BBC

Unlike a growing number of counties, Lake County does not offer voting centers, a hybrid model that allows voters to drop off ballots several days before the election.

From Los Angeles Times

Business first started to drop off when longtime customers retired and no one took their place, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

The "bomb cyclone" - as forecasters call it - is caused by air pressure quickly dropping off the coast, which has rapidly intensified the weather system.

From BBC

She described friends "dropping off" following media reports of the offending.

From BBC

Related Words

• diminish
• dwindle
• fall away
• fall off
• lessen
• sag
• slacken