fell
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for fell, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To cut something down, especially a tree, or to knock someone or something to the ground.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use fell
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English fellan/fiellan, "to cause to fall," the causative partner of "fall" — literally "to make (something) fall."
Full origin of fell →Frequently asked questions
What does “fell” mean?
The word “fell” means to cut something down, especially a tree, or to knock someone or something to the ground. In plain terms, mainly the past tense of a verb meaning to chop down or knock down, but also a stand-alone adjective meaning fierce/deadly, and a noun for a bare hill.
How do you pronounce “fell”?
“Fell” is pronounced fehl (/fɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “fell” in a sentence?
Here is “fell” used in a sentence: “The loggers felled three oaks before lunch.”
What part of speech is “fell”?
Depending on how it is used, “fell” can be a verb, an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “fell” come from?
The word “fell” comes from Old English. From Old English fellan/fiellan, "to cause to fall," the causative partner of "fall" — literally "to make (something) fall.".
Is “fell” a common word?
“Fell” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “fell” have?
“Fell” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to cut something down, especially a tree, or to knock someone or something to the ground.
What is the difference between 'fell' and 'fall'?
To fell is to make something fall — you fell a tree by cutting it down. To fall is to drop of your own accord. Fell is transitive and always takes an object; fall is intransitive. Confusingly, 'fell' is also the past tense of 'fall,' as in 'he fell over.'
What does it mean to fell a tree?
To fell a tree is to cut it down so that it drops to the ground, usually with an axe or a saw. It is the standard term in forestry and logging. The person who does this is a feller, and a tree that has been cut is said to have been felled.
What is the past tense of 'fell'?
When 'fell' means to cut or knock down, its past tense is 'felled' — 'they felled the oak last winter.' Do not confuse this with 'fell' as the past tense of 'fall.' So a lumberjack felled a tree, but a hiker fell down a slope.