often attributive
1
a(1)
: the quantity of fluid that falls in one spherical mass
a drop of rain
(2)
drops plural
: a dose of medicine measured by drops
eye drops for dilating the pupil of the eye
b
: a minute quantity or degree of something nonmaterial or intangible
not a drop of meanness in her
c
: a small quantity of drink
hasn't touched a drop of alcohol in three years
d
: the smallest practical unit of liquid measure
2
: something that resembles a liquid drop: such as
a
: a pendent ornament attached to a piece of jewelry
also
: an earring with such a pendant
b
: a small globular cookie or candy
sucking on lemon drops
3
b
: a decline in quantity or quality
His income took a sudden drop.
a drop in demand
c
: a descent by parachute
also
: the people or equipment dropped by parachute
expecting another drop this week
d
: a place or central depository to which something (such as mail, money, or stolen property) is brought for distribution or transmission
left the package at the drop
4
a
: the distance from a higher to a lower level or through which something drops
It's a twenty-foot drop from the top of the fence.
a steep drop
b
electrical engineering
: a decrease in electric potential (see potential entry 2 sense 2b)
5
: a slot into which something is to be dropped
6
[drop entry 2]
: something that drops, hangs, or falls: such as
a
: a movable plate that covers the keyhole of a lock
b
: an unframed piece of cloth stage scenery
also
: drop curtain
c
: a hinged platform on a gallows
d
: a fallen fruit
7
: the advantage of having an opponent covered (see cover entry 1 sense 1b(2)) with a firearm
broadly
: advantage, superiority
—usually used in the phrase get the drop on
waiting to get the drop on me
8
: a move back from the line of scrimmage (as in preparation for making a forward pass)
a quick drop
dropped; dropping; drops
1
: to fall in drops
2
a(1)
: to fall (see fall entry 1 sense 1a) unexpectedly or suddenly
The book dropped from her hand.
(2)
: to descend (see descend sense 1) from one line or level to another
the land drops to sea level
b
: to fall in a state of collapse (see collapse entry 2 sense 1b) or death
dropped from exhaustion
c
of a playing card
: to become played by reason of the obligation to follow suit
d
: to fall or roll into a hole or basket
3
: to enter or pass as if without conscious effort of will (see will entry 2 sense 4a) into some state, condition, or activity
dropped into sleep
4
5
nautical
: to move with a favoring wind or current
—usually used with down
We dropped down the harbor.
6
informal
: to be released to the public
His latest solo album dropped in August …—
Ed Rampell
Ed RampellThe second Podcast drops Nov. 14 and can be downloaded free …—Langston Wertz, Jr.
Langston Wertz, Jr.There's also something to be said for jumping on a subscription for a month or two, say when a big, new game drops.—Adam Rosenberg
Adam Rosenberg1
: to let fall : cause to fall
dropped the ball
dropping bombs on the city
2
a
: give up sense 2, abandon
drop an idea
drop the charges
b
: discontinue
dropped what she was doing
3
a
: to utter or mention in a casual way
drop a suggestion
drop names
b
: write
drop us a line soon
4
a
: to lower or cause to descend from one level or position to another
drop the hem two inches
drop the water level
b
: to cause to lessen or decrease : reduce
dropped his speed
5
of an animal
: to give birth to
6
7
a
: to bring down with a shot or a blow
dropped the buck with one shot
dropping the world champion in the ring
b
card games
: to cause a cardholder to unwillingly play (a high card)
dropped her ace
c
: to toss or roll into a hole or basket
drop a putt
8
a
: to deposit or deliver during a usually brief stop
—usually used with off
drop the kids off at school
b
: air-drop
drop the supplies to the medical team
9
: to cause (the voice) to be less loud
10
a
linguistics
: to leave (a letter representing a speech sound) unsounded
drop the g in running
b
: to leave out in writing : omit
accidentally dropped a whole line
11
: to draw from an external point
drop a perpendicular to the line
12
: to take (a drug) orally : swallow
drop acid
13
computers
: to place (an item on a computer screen) in one location in a graphical user interface after dragging it from another
Move the video to the desired location and release the mouse button to drop the file …—Techsling
Techsling… you get a handy graphical representation of all your tasks and can even drag and drop them from one list to another …—Jack Wallen
Jack Wallen
Synonyms
Examples of drop in a Sentence
Noun
He squeezed the bottle until a few drops came out.
She doesn't have a single drop of selfishness in her.
The poet wrings the last drop of meaning from every word.
Verb
Be careful not to drop the chair on your foot.
She dropped the apple core into the trash can.
They dropped bombs on the city.
He dropped the vase and it shattered into pieces.
The player dropped the ball.
The pen rolled to the edge of the table and dropped to the floor.
The book dropped from my hand.
The ball dropped between the right and center fielders.
She was so tired she felt she would drop.
He worked until he dropped.
Recent Examples on the WebSarah Zendejas, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Afternoon showers were a bit less intense, but quick downpours and temperature drops were common with any activity.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Traders see a 63% expectation that the Fed cuts rates in June, a drop from more than 70% a week earlier, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.
—Krystal Hur, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
Every frame is wild and colorful, with lots of needle drops and an energy that is sometimes unwieldy.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The sleek exterior suffered no damage during our ladder drop test.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Using soft-action baitcasting rods and 8-pound abrasion-resistant line, troll between 1.5 and 2.5 mph in a lazy S pattern, alternately sweeping the open water over the channel and banging bottom on top of the drop with your lures.
—Don Wirth, Field & Stream, 4 Apr. 2024
There were barely enough rooms for patients, who resorted to walling themselves off by hanging sheets or blankets from the drop ceiling for privacy.
—Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar. 2024
The visual artist kept her makeup and accessories minimal, going for a single pair of drop earrings.
—Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024
Greg Myre, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
Taylor Swift is dropping her new album, The Tortured Poets Department on April 19, which is 13 days from now, and also incidentally a number, which carries a lot of significance for her.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2024
But those leaves drop, along with their spiky, ball-shape seeds.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
Boeing stock has dropped 27% year-to-date, and last month the company announced that Calhoun would exit along with board Chairman Larry Kellner and commercial airplanes division CEO Stan Deal.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2024
On the 13th day of its run — April 19 — Swift will drop The Tortured Poets Department.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 6 Apr. 2024
The temperature will drop When the sun is blocked out, the temperature drops noticeably.
—Mallory Moench, TIME, 6 Apr. 2024
His buyout is $6 million and drops to $5 million at the end of April.
—Anthony Kristensen, arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
The long circular path that presents itself to you at the start of the park feels like it was dropped from another realm.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
Then, to finish, accessorize the look with a heeled Mary Jane and gold drop earrings.
—Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Afternoon showers were a bit less intense, but quick downpours and temperature drops were common with any activity.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Traders see a 63% expectation that the Fed cuts rates in June, a drop from more than 70% a week earlier, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.
—Krystal Hur, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
Every frame is wild and colorful, with lots of needle drops and an energy that is sometimes unwieldy.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The sleek exterior suffered no damage during our ladder drop test.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Using soft-action baitcasting rods and 8-pound abrasion-resistant line, troll between 1.5 and 2.5 mph in a lazy S pattern, alternately sweeping the open water over the channel and banging bottom on top of the drop with your lures.
—Don Wirth, Field & Stream, 4 Apr. 2024
There were barely enough rooms for patients, who resorted to walling themselves off by hanging sheets or blankets from the drop ceiling for privacy.
—Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar. 2024
The visual artist kept her makeup and accessories minimal, going for a single pair of drop earrings.
—Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024
Verb
The reason World Central Kitchen was delivering food by sea, and the U.S. and other countries are dropping aid by plane, are Israeli restrictions on aid going by road into Gaza.
—Greg Myre, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
Taylor Swift is dropping her new album, The Tortured Poets Department on April 19, which is 13 days from now, and also incidentally a number, which carries a lot of significance for her.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2024
But those leaves drop, along with their spiky, ball-shape seeds.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
Boeing stock has dropped 27% year-to-date, and last month the company announced that Calhoun would exit along with board Chairman Larry Kellner and commercial airplanes division CEO Stan Deal.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2024
On the 13th day of its run — April 19 — Swift will drop The Tortured Poets Department.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 6 Apr. 2024
The temperature will drop When the sun is blocked out, the temperature drops noticeably.
—Mallory Moench, TIME, 6 Apr. 2024
His buyout is $6 million and drops to $5 million at the end of April.
—Anthony Kristensen, arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
The long circular path that presents itself to you at the start of the park feels like it was dropped from another realm.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drop.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Old English dropa; akin to Old High German tropfo drop
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of drop was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing drop
Dictionary Entries Near drop
Cite this Entry
“Drop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drop. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
drop
1 of 2 noun1
a
: the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass
b
plural
: a dose of medicine measured by drops
eye drops
c
: a small quantity of drink
d
: the smallest practical unit of liquid measure
2
: something (as a hanging ornament on jewelry or a round candy) shaped like a drop
3
a
: the act or an instance of dropping : fall
b
: a decline in quantity or quality
a drop in water pressure
a drop in prices
c
: a descent by parachute
d
: a place where something (as mail or goods) is left to be picked up
4
: the distance through which something drops
5
: an unframed piece of cloth scenery in a theater
6
: advantage sense 1
we've got the drop on them
drop
2 of 2 verb
dropped; dropping
1
: to fall or let fall in drops
2
a
: to let fall : cause to fall
dropped the book
b
: to reduce to a lower level or stage
dropped his speed
3
: send sense 1
drop me a line
4
: to stop doing, using, or considering
drop the subject
dropped everything and ran to the door
you can drop that idea
5
: to knock or shoot down
6
: to go lower
prices dropped
7
: to make a brief visit
drop in for a chat
8
: to pass into a less active state
drop off to sleep
9
: to move downward or with a current
10
: to leave (a letter standing for a speech sound) unsounded
drop the "g" in "running"
11
: to give birth to
the cow dropped her calf
Medical Definition
drop
1 of 2 noun1
a
: the quantity of fluid that falls in one spherical mass
b
2
: the smallest practical unit of liquid measure that varies in size according to the specific gravity and viscosity of the liquid and to the conditions under which it is formed compare minim
drop
2 of 2 verb
dropped; dropping
: to fall in drops
1
of an animal
: to give birth to
lambs dropped in June
2
: to take (a drug) orally
drop acid
More from Merriam-Webster on drop
Nglish: Translation of drop for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of drop for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about drop
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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