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noun

freefall

FREE-fawl
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Freefall (noun) means the state of falling under gravity alone, with no other force acting to slow it. Example: “Skydivers experience several seconds of freefall before opening their parachute.”

noun
1
The state of falling under gravity alone, with no other force acting to slow it.
"Skydivers experience several seconds of freefall before opening their parachute."
2
A rapid and uncontrolled decline.
"The company's stock price went into freefall after the scandal broke."
verb
1
To drop rapidly and without control, literally or figuratively.
"Sales began to freefall as soon as the competitor launched its product."

How to use freefall

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFalling freely under gravity, or, figuratively, dropping sharply and uncontrollably (like prices or morale).

Common pairings
go into freefall economic freefall
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Word forms

Plural
freefalls
Third person singular
freefalls
Past tense
freefell, freefallen
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Skydivers experience several seconds of _____ before opening their parachute.

Etymology

A compound of "free" and "fall."

Rhymes for freefall

See all rhymes for freefall →

Frequently asked questions

What does “freefall” mean?
The word “freefall” means the state of falling under gravity alone, with no other force acting to slow it. In plain terms, falling freely under gravity, or, figuratively, dropping sharply and uncontrollably (like prices or morale).
How do you pronounce “freefall”?
“Freefall” is pronounced FREE-fawl (/ˈfɹiːˌfɔːl/ in IPA).
How do you use “freefall” in a sentence?
Here is “freefall” used in a sentence: “Skydivers experience several seconds of freefall before opening their parachute.”
What part of speech is “freefall”?
Depending on how it is used, “freefall” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “freefall” have?
“Freefall” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the state of falling under gravity alone, with no other force acting to slow it.