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

Mr Sidpara told the call handler she had fallen over while drunk and suffered injuries that had caused her to bleed, the jury heard.

From BBC

Toy sales have fallen for a third year in a row as family budgets are squeezed - but adults are buying childhood favourites to escape their troubles, research suggests.

From BBC

Both Breed and Thao emphasized in their efforts to retain office that crime levels had fallen in their cities in recent months, and asked for more time to make change.

From Los Angeles Times

In the wake of Donald Trump's devastating win last week, Democrats have fallen back on an old habit and are now trying to coax better behavior out of Republicans.

From Salon

Warhol’s work, too, has fallen foul of criminals of late.

From BBC

Related Words

• collapsed
• decayed