drop-off

1 of 2

noun

1
: a very steep or perpendicular descent
2
: a marked dwindling or decline
a drop-off in attendance
3
: the act or an instance of making a usually brief deposit or delivery
drop-off points along the route

drop off

2 of 2

verb

dropped off; dropping off; drops off

intransitive verb

: to fall asleep

Examples of drop-off in a Sentence

Noun the drop-off in movie attendance was the greatest in more than a decade Verb my interest in photography has dropped off over the years
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The drop-off point was later changed to the Indianapolis International Airport and the car was seen via license-plate reader cameras on June 9 near 50 Star in Gary. Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025 Garcia pointed to a sudden drop-off in an area where people swim. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2025
Verb
The user drop off comes as both Temu and Shein have pulled back on U.S. advertising spend over recent months since the Trump administration’s tariff announcements. Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 5 June 2025 The following morning, Thompson dropped off the older child at the bus stop and came back home, then the woman left for work, leaving her 2-year-old daughter with Thompson, deputies said. Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for drop-off

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1812, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of drop-off was in 1812

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Drop-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drop-off. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!