dropping
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for dropping, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The act of something falling, or a small piece of animal waste.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use dropping
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
By surface analysis, drop + -ing.
Full origin of dropping →Frequently asked questions
What does “dropping” mean?
The word “dropping” means the act of something falling, or a small piece of animal waste.
How do you pronounce “dropping”?
“Dropping” is pronounced DRO-pihng (/ˈdɹɑpɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “dropping” in a sentence?
Here is “dropping” used in a sentence: “Rabbit droppings were scattered across the lawn.”
What part of speech is “dropping”?
“Dropping” is a noun.
Is “dropping” a common word?
“Dropping” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between 'dropping' and 'droppings'?
'Dropping' in the singular usually means the act of something falling, while 'droppings' in the plural refers to the solid waste of animals or birds. You would clean up bird droppings, not a bird dropping.
When is 'dropping' used to mean animal waste?
In the singular, a 'dropping' can mean a single small piece of animal waste, but the plural 'droppings' is far more common for this meaning. For the falling sense, 'dropping' describes the act of letting something fall.
What is the difference between 'droppings' and 'manure'?
Droppings are the natural solid waste of animals and birds, often found scattered where the animal left them, while manure usually refers to such waste gathered and used to fertilise soil. Manure is essentially droppings put to agricultural use.