Dropped

/drɒpt/

verbBeginner🔥Very CommonAction
3 meanings3 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

3 meanings
1

To let something fall from your hand or from a higher position.

/drɒpt/

verbneutralBeginner
Action

To let something fall intentionally or unintentionally.

I accidentally dropped my phone on the sidewalk.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're holding your ice cream and *oops*, you *dropped* it! It means something fell out of your hands or stopped being held up.

👶 For kids: To let something fall down.

More Examples

2

The courier dropped off the package at the front door.

3

The temperature dropped significantly overnight.

How It's Used

General

"She dropped the keys."

Sports

"He dropped the ball, costing his team the game."

Information Technology

"The database administrator dropped the table."

2

To cease or discontinue (something).

/drɒpt/

verbneutralmedium
Action

To cease doing or being involved with something; to reduce or lower something.

The government dropped the tax on certain goods.

💡 Simply: Like deciding you don't want to go to the movies anymore - you've *dropped* the plans. Or, if a store lowers its prices, they've *dropped* them.

👶 For kids: To stop doing something or make something less.

More Examples

2

She dropped the habit of smoking.

3

We had to drop out of the competition.

How It's Used

Business

"The company dropped its prices to increase sales."

Politics

"The politician dropped the controversial bill."

Social

"She dropped her old friends."

Tip:Think of stopping or reducing something.
3

To send a communication

/drɒpt/

verbneutralBeginner
Action

To send something to someone through digital media.

I dropped you a text about dinner.

💡 Simply: You sent someone a text message or an email.

👶 For kids: To send a message.

More Examples

2

I dropped an email to the HR department.

3

She dropped me a DM on Instagram.

How It's Used

Social Media

"She dropped me a text message."

Email

"I'll drop you an email later."

Tip:Think of leaving someone something.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

drop a hint

To suggest something indirectly.

"She dropped a hint about wanting to go to the beach."

drop by/in

To visit someone casually.

"I might drop by your place later."

drop the ball

To fail to do something, especially due to carelessness or negligence.

"The team dropped the ball on the project, and it wasn't completed on time."

From Old English *drōpan* or *drūpan* ('to drip, fall'), related to *drēopan* ('to drip').

The word "dropped" has been used similarly for centuries, reflecting the basic meaning of releasing or falling.

Memory tip

Think of letting something fall to the ground.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"to fall"

drop a hintdrop bydrop offdrop outdrop the balldrop something

Common misspellings

dropeddropt

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written