fell away

USAGE SUMMARY

"fell away" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has declined or decreased in quantity, quality, or strength. Example: After the company's profits fell away, they had to lay off several employees.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Friends fell away.

The New York Times - Health

His towel fell away.

The Guardian - Books

The armor fell away.

The New York Times - Arts

Audiences fell away.

The New York Times - Sports

Mentions that her friendships fell away.

The New Yorker

Beneath us the forest fell away.

The New Yorker

When Fisseha ran, ambition fell away.

The New York Times - Magazine

"We fell away and never recovered.

Independent

Suddenly, his reticence fell away.

The New York Times

But the "buts" fell away.

The Guardian

Rop fell away next, then Kwambai.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fell away" to describe a gradual decline or disappearance, whether it's support, enthusiasm, or physical distance. It often implies a natural or expected process of reduction.

Common error

Avoid using "fell away" when describing a sudden, immediate disappearance. The phrase suggests a more gradual process. For a sudden disappearance, consider alternatives like "vanished" or "disappeared".

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "fell away" primarily functions as a verb describing a gradual decline, decrease, or disappearance. It is used to express a reduction in quantity, quality, or strength over a period of time. According to Ludwig AI it follows standard grammar rules and is commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "fell away" is a versatile expression denoting a gradual decline or disappearance. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in written English. It's frequently found in news and media contexts to describe diminishing support, receding landscapes, or fading concepts. When using this phrase, remember that it implies a gradual process rather than a sudden event, and consider alternatives like "diminished", "declined", or "dwindled" for more precise meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lessened

Suggests a decrease in amount, degree, or intensity.

declined

Suggests a gradual decrease in quality, quantity, or intensity.

diminished

Implies a reduction in size, extent, or importance.

dwindled

Indicates a progressive shrinking or reduction until little remains.

disappeared

Indicates something ceasing to be visible or to exist.

vanished

Signifies a sudden disappearance or cessation of existence.

dissipated

Implies a scattering or dissolving, often used for intangible things like hope or energy.

subsided

Suggests a calming down or lessening of intensity, often used for emotions or phenomena.

faded

Implies a gradual loss of color, brightness, or intensity.

receded

Indicates a moving back or away, often used for water or physical boundaries.

FAQs

How can I use "fell away" in a sentence?

You can use "fell away" to describe a gradual decline or disappearance. For example, "Support for the proposal "fell away" after the scandal broke."

What can I say instead of "fell away"?

You can use alternatives like "diminished", "declined", or "dwindled" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "fell off" instead of "fell away"?

While both phrases involve something decreasing, "fell off" typically describes a sharp or sudden decrease, whereas "fell away" suggests a more gradual decline.

What's the difference between "support fell away" and "support disappeared"?

"Support "fell away"" implies a gradual loss of support over time, while "support "disappeared"" suggests a sudden and complete loss of support.