Dictionary
downfall
noun down·fall \ˈdau̇n-ˌfȯl\
: a sudden loss of power, happiness, success, etc.
: something that causes failure
Full Definition of DOWNFALL
1
a : a sudden fall (as from power) b : a fall (as of snow or rain) especially when sudden or heavy
2
: something that causes a downfall (as of a person) <gambling was his downfall>
— down·fall·en \-ˌfȯ-lən\ adjective
See downfall defined for English-language learners
See downfall defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
First Known Use of DOWNFALL
13th century
Related to DOWNFALL
Rhymes with DOWNFALL
ALGOL, and all, Antall, appall, Argall, argol, air ball, ashfall, at all, atoll, AWOL, baseball, beach ball, beanball, befall, Bengal, best-ball, birdcall, blackball, Bokmål, bookstall, box stall, bradawl, brick wall, broomball, catcall, catchall, cell wall, COBOL, cold call, cornball, Cornwall, crown gall, cue ball, cure-all, curveball, deadfall, de Gaulle, dodgeball, downhaul, drywall, duck call, eight ball, enthrall, eyeball, fair ball, fastball, fireball, fire wall, foosball, football, footfall, footwall, forestall, forkball, foul ball, four-ball, fourth wall, free-fall, gadwall, game ball, glycol, golf ball, Goodall, goofball, googol, guildhall, hair ball, handball, hardball, headstall, heelball, highball, holdall, house call, icefall, infall, install, John Paul, jump ball, keelhaul, know-all, landfall, Landsmål, line-haul, line squall, lowball, Maillol, meatball, menthol, mess hall, miscall, mothball, Naipaul, naphthol, Nepal, nightfall, nutgall, oddball, outfall, outhaul, paintball, pinball, pitfall, plimsoll, pratfall, prayer shawl, pub crawl, puffball, punchball, pushball, rainfall, rainsquall, recall, rial, Riksmål, rockfall, roll call, rorqual, Saint Paul, save-all, screwball, seawall, short-haul, shortfall, sick call, sidewall, sleazeball, slimeball, snowball, snowfall, softball, sour ball, speedball, spitball, stickball, stonewall, stone wall, stoopball, strip mall, T-ball, tea ball, tell-all, three-ball, toll call, town hall, trackball, Tyrol, Udall, Walsall, what all, whip stall, Whitehall, whitewall, windfall, windgall, withal, you-all
DOWNFALL Defined for Kids
downfall
noun down·fall \ˈdau̇n-ˌfȯl\
Definition of DOWNFALL for Kids
: a sudden fall (as from power, happiness, or a high position) or the cause of such a fall <the downfall of the Roman Empire> <Greed proved to be his downfall.>
— down·fall·en \-ˌfȯl-ən\ adjective
Learn More About DOWNFALL
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: downfallingPrevious Word in the Dictionary: down–facedAll Words Near: downfall
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up downfall? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).