fell

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fell" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the past tense of the verb "fall," indicating that something has dropped or descended from a higher position. Example: "He fell from the tree while trying to climb it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On Black Fell, looking down on Northumberland's beautiful Kielder Water reservoir, a group of people wait in a car park next to a strange wooden building with a minimalist design beamed down from the future.

The Guardian

Things fell apart.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It has emerged that The Smiler was manufactured by German firm Gerstlauer, which also built the trains for a rollercoaster in Six Flags Park in Texas from which a woman fell to her death in 2013.

The Guardian

Scandals that aren't out of tune with a celebrity's image are often surprisingly easy to bounce back from: after images of Kate Moss snorting coke surfaced, her bookings fell, but, over time, they went up.

The Economist

After darkness fell New York became the scene of the most vigorous protests.

The Guardian

He developed the skill to climb difficult walls without ropes, relying on a small chute on his back in case he fell.

The Guardian

The sources said the Ukip majority, which fell short of 15% in one poll, meant that Tory MPs were likely to think twice about defecting.

The Guardian

Some imagined Mugabe running away from the security forces; others made jokes about the panic among his staff as he fell over.

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

Platinum refiner Johnson Matthey dropped 102p to £23.06 as third quarter profits fell 19% to £84.3m, hit by lower sales of catalytic converters for car exhaust systems in Europe and weak demand in Japan.

The Guardian - Business

The good news was already "baked in," an analyst tells Reuters: U.S. stock index futures fell Thursday as investors digested a deal agreed by lawmakers in Washington a day earlier to reopen the federal government and raise the debt ceiling in order to avoid a debt default.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fell" as the past tense of "fall", ensure the context clearly indicates a downward movement or a decline. For example, "The temperature fell sharply overnight."

Common error

Avoid using "fell" when the present tense "fall" is required. "Fell" indicates a past action; use "fall" for current or general situations. For example, say "leaves fall in autumn" not "leaves fell in autumn" to describe a general truth.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fell" is as the past tense of the verb "fall". It describes a completed action of dropping, declining, or descending. Ludwig AI examples show its versatile use in various contexts, such as describing a physical fall or a decline in numbers.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Sport

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Travel

5%

Lifestyle

5%

Film

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "fell" functions primarily as the past tense of the verb "fall", indicating a completed action of dropping, declining, or descending. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across numerous contexts. It's crucial to differentiate between "fell" (past tense of "fall") and "felled" (past tense of "fell", meaning to cut down). Being mindful of tense and context ensures accurate and effective communication, whether discussing market declines or personal mishaps.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dropped

Indicates a decrease or descent, similar to "fell" but often implies a more sudden or direct downward movement.

declined

Suggests a gradual decrease in quantity, quality, or importance, akin to "fell" in contexts of decline.

decreased

Refers to a reduction in number or amount, similar to "fell" when describing a decrease in statistics or values.

tumbled

Implies a rapid, uncontrolled descent, akin to "fell" but with an emphasis on the lack of control.

plummeted

Suggests a steep and rapid fall, similar to "fell" but with a stronger sense of urgency or severity.

collapsed

Implies a sudden loss of structure or strength, similar to "fell" when describing systems or buildings.

succumbed

Suggests yielding to pressure or force, similar to "fell" in contexts of defeat or failure.

slumped

Implies a sudden drop in activity or performance, similar to "fell" but focusing on a temporary downturn.

crashed

Indicates a sudden failure or sharp decline, akin to "fell" but with a sense of finality.

stumbled

Suggests a loss of balance or a mistake that leads to a fall, similar to "fell" when indicating an error.

FAQs

How can I use "fell" in a sentence?

"Fell" is the past tense of "fall" and can be used to describe a past event where something dropped or declined. For example, "The climber "fell" from the cliff", or "The company's profits "fell" sharply last quarter".

What can I say instead of "fell"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "dropped", "declined", or "tumbled". For example, instead of "the price "fell"", you could say "the price dropped".

Is it correct to say "fallen" instead of "fell"?

No, "fallen" is the past participle of "fall" and requires a helping verb such as "has" or "had". "Fell" is the simple past tense. So, you would say "He "fell" down the stairs" but "He has "fallen" down the stairs".

What's the difference between "fell" and "felled"?

"Fell" is the past tense of "fall", meaning to drop or descend. "Felled" means to cut down, usually referring to trees. For example, "He "fell" off the ladder", but "The lumberjack "felled" the tree".