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fall away

B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To slowly get smaller, weaker, or to drop off something.

Literal meaning: To fall in a direction away from a central point — moving downward and outward.

Meanings

1 B2 neutral

Of ground or a surface: to slope steeply downward.

"Beyond the fence, the land fell away sharply into a deep ravine."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

To decrease in number, intensity, or strength gradually.

"Public support for the policy fell away as the economic situation worsened."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral

Of feelings, worries, or inhibitions: to disappear or become less important.

"As the music started, all her anxiety fell away and she felt completely at ease."

Grammar: inseparable
4 C1 idiomatic neutral

To leave a group or stop supporting a cause; to abandon or desert.

"Many early followers fell away when the movement's leader was arrested."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Used in physical contexts (ground falling away steeply), emotional contexts (worries falling away), and contexts of decline (support falling away). Has a somewhat literary or formal feel in some uses.

Commonly used with

ground support crowd noise worries inhibitions followers

Forms

Base
fall away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
falls away
he/she/it
Past simple
fell away
yesterday
Past participle
fallen away
have + pp
-ing form
falling away
continuous

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Synonyms

decrease diminish drop off recede dwindle peel away

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