fall out of use

USAGE SUMMARY

"fall out of use" is a valid phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is no longer regularly used or has been discarded by society. For example, "Traditional methods of communication have fallen out of use over the past decade due to the increasing popularity of online platforms."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

WHEN churches fall out of use, what happens to them?

The Economist

Random browsing might become less common, and words might fall out of use as a result.

The New Yorker

Tax fossil fuels high enough and they will fall out of use.

The Economist

The word metrosexual will probably only finally fall out of use when masculinity and heterosexuality are no longer considered synonyms.

Independent

It's true that no technology is ever disinvented, but technology does fall out of use all the time.

The New York Times

The accounts mostly fall out of use when customers move home and forget to tell their bank.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

By the end of the 18th century, when Westerners had acquired more sophistication regarding these imports, the inaccurate blanket description Indian goods fell out of use.

Britannica

With the advent of major shipping lanes, however, the overland routes fell out of use and Kashgar became something of a backwater.

BBC

The truth is, conventional politics has simply fallen out of use in front of us, so slowly at times we may not have noticed it.

The Guardian - Opinion

A lot of words have fallen out of use".

The Guardian

By the end of the eighth century, the original diple had fallen out of use.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fall out of use", consider specifying the reason for the decline, such as technological advancements or changing cultural norms.

Common error

Avoid using "fall out of use" when you mean to say something has become unpopular. "Fall out of favor" is more appropriate for describing a loss of popularity or approval, while "fall out of use" refers to something no longer being utilized.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fall out of use" functions as a compound verb, indicating a process of something ceasing to be utilized. Ludwig AI confirms it's a valid English phrase. Examples from Ludwig show it describing technologies, words, and even buildings.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Encyclopedias

17%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Science

13%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fall out of use" is a valid and useful phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, for describing the decline or cessation of something's utilization. It's grammatically correct and appears across a range of contexts, from news articles to academic papers. When using "fall out of use", it's important to provide context and specify the reason for the decline and don't confuse it with "fall out of favor". Several alternatives, such as "become obsolete" or "cease to be used", can be employed to convey similar meanings with slight variations in nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Cease to be used

A straightforward and neutral alternative.

Become disused

Emphasizes the state of being no longer in use, often due to neglect.

Become obsolete

Indicates something is no longer produced or used, often due to being outdated.

Be superseded

Implies replacement by something newer or better.

Lapse into disuse

Highlights a gradual decline into a state of non-use.

Become outdated

Focuses on the reason for disuse being related to being old or not current.

Go out of fashion

Suggests a decline in popularity or trendiness.

Lose currency

Indicates a loss of relevance or acceptance.

Become defunct

Implies the cessation of operation or existence.

Fade away

Suggests a gradual disappearance or decline in use or importance.

FAQs

How can I use "fall out of use" in a sentence?

You can use "fall out of use" to describe anything that is no longer being utilized. For example, "Many traditional tools have "become obsolete" and "fallen out of use" due to technological advancements."

What's the difference between "fall out of use" and "become obsolete"?

"Fall out of use" generally implies that something is no longer being utilized, while "become obsolete" suggests that something is outdated or no longer produced. They're often interchangeable, but "become obsolete" emphasizes the reason for the lack of use.

What can I say instead of "fall out of use"?

Alternatives include "cease to be used", "become disused", or "lapse into disuse" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say something has "fallen out of use"?

Yes, "fallen out of use" is the past participle form and is grammatically correct to use. For example, "The old methods have "fallen out of use" since the new technology was introduced."