Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [doun-fawl]
- /ˈdaʊnˌfɔl/
- /ˈdaʊn.fɔːl/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [doun-fawl]
- /ˈdaʊnˌfɔl/
Definitions of downfall word
- noun downfall descent to a lower position or standing; overthrow; ruin. 1
- noun downfall something causing ruin, failure, etc.: Liquor was his downfall. 1
- noun downfall a fall, as of rain, snow, or the like, often sudden or heavy. 1
- noun downfall a trap using a falling weight for killing, injuring, or imprisoning the prey. 1
- noun downfall A loss of power, prosperity, or status. 1
- noun downfall person: ruin, destruction 1
Information block about the term
Origin of downfall
First appearance:
before 1250 One of the 11% oldest English words
Middle English word dating back to 1250-1300; See origin at down1, fall
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Downfall
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
downfall popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 93% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
downfall usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for downfall
noun downfall
- breakdown — The breakdown of something such as a relationship, plan, or discussion is its failure or ending.
- undoing — the reversing of what has been done; annulling.
- collapse — If a building or other structure collapses, it falls down very suddenly.
- debacle — A debacle is an event or attempt that is a complete failure.
- deterioration — the act or process of deteriorating.
Antonyms for downfall
noun downfall
- building — A building is a structure that has a roof and walls, for example a house or a factory.
- improvement — an act of improving or the state of being improved.
- increase — to make greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality; augment; add to: to increase taxes.
- morality — conformity to the rules of right conduct; moral or virtuous conduct.
- accomplishment — An accomplishment is something remarkable that has been done or achieved.
Top questions with downfall
- what caused the downfall of ghana?
- which led most directly to napoleon bonaparte's downfall?
- what does downfall mean?
- what will be the downfall of america?
- what is the downfall of the hero in a tragedy?
- how to play downfall?
- what is downfall?
- what caused the downfall of napoleon?
- who is to blame for the downfall of macbeth?
- what led to the downfall of rome?
- what is a downfall?
- how did the battle of waterloo contribute to napoleon's downfall?
- what was operation downfall?
- what brought about the downfall of the sumerians?
- what caused the downfall of the roman empire?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with d
- Words starting with do
- Words starting with dow
- Words starting with down
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- Words starting with downfall