falling

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "falling" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is usually used as a verb and means to descend freely by the force of gravity. Example: The leaves were falling from the tree as the autumn wind blew.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hollywood also found it easier to tackle these issues through the prism of the musical, as in 1957's The Pajama Game, where Doris Day and her factory superintendent resolve their industrial dispute by falling in love.

The Guardian - Film

Upstream capital spending edged lower last year, falling to $147.4bn as companies reacted to the surprise fall in the oil price, the first dip in upstream investments in at least nine years.

The Guardian

Stretching towards Peru and Bolivia, it lays claim to being the driest desert in the world, with only 0.01mm of rain falling in an average year.

The Guardian - Travel

A photo of Robert Mugabe falling down the stairs has spread like wildfire online after the 90-year-old Zimbabwe president took a tumble outside Harare airport, where he had been speaking to supporters.

The Guardian

With a 59% drop from the previous frame, Age of Ultron fell harder than any other film in the top 10, and does not look set for a similarly powerful run, probably falling shy of £50m lifetime.

The Guardian - Film

The rise in GDP was supported by tailwinds from falling fuel prices, which put extra cash into consumers' pockets, and the export-boosting drop in the value of the euro.

The Guardian - Business

This has fallen slightly since then, but their report suggests that with NHS England projections of flat cash for the NHS, and reasonable assumptions around forecast GDP growth, we could see our spend on healthcare falling back to around 6% of GDP by 2021, equivalent of 2003's spending levels.

The Guardian

It's already booked months in advance with critics falling over themselves to dish out the plaudits.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In both of those measures, the UK has been falling behind the average improvement for the rest of the world.

The Guardian

Boyle's comments suggest he and McGregor have made up following their falling out over The Beach.

The Guardian - Film

The challenge for the youngsters, and the hurdle Australian tennis has been falling at, will be in translating success in the juniors to the senior ranks, according to Mal Anderson, who won the US championship in 1957.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "falling" to evoke the emotion associated with the action. e.g. "falling in love" to describe the happy feeling.

Common error

Avoid confusing "falling" (descending) with "felling" (cutting down a tree). Double-check your spelling to ensure the correct word is used.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "falling" is a verb, typically used as a present participle or gerund. Ludwig AI confirms it commonly describes an action of descending or declining as showed in the examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "falling" functions primarily as a verb, denoting descent, decline, or transition. As shown by Ludwig, it is grammatically sound and versatile, featuring prominently in various contexts, from News & Media to Formal & Business and Scientific domains. While generally neutral, its tone may shift depending on the specific application, such as describing market trends or personal emotional states. Related terms include "descending", "declining", and "tumbling", each carrying unique nuances. A common error is confusing "falling" with "felling". The phrase's widespread usage is validated by authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

descending

Emphasizes a downward movement or transition.

dropping

Focuses on a sudden or abrupt downward movement.

declining

Highlights a gradual decrease or deterioration in condition or quantity.

tumbling

Suggests an uncontrolled or chaotic downward movement.

plunging

Indicates a rapid and forceful descent.

slipping

Implies a loss of grip or stability, leading to a descent.

collapsing

Conveys a sudden failure or breakdown, often resulting in a downward movement.

diminishing

Focuses on a reduction in size, importance, or intensity.

lessening

Indicates a decrease in amount, degree, or severity.

weakening

Highlights a loss of strength or effectiveness.

FAQs

How do I use "falling" in a sentence?

You can use "falling" to describe a physical descent (e.g., "The rain was falling"), a decrease in value (e.g., "Profits are falling"), or an emotional state (e.g., "I'm falling in love").

What are some alternatives to "falling" when describing a decrease?

Alternatives include "declining", "decreasing", "diminishing", or "lessening" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "falling" and "dropping"?

"Falling" generally describes a continuous descent, while "dropping" often implies a sudden or abrupt descent.

How does the meaning of "falling" change in the phrase "falling in love"?

In the phrase "falling in love", "falling" describes the process of gradually entering a state of strong affection or infatuation, rather than a literal physical descent.