Downfall Meaning
/ˈdaʊnfɔːl/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA precipitous decline in fortune; death or rapid deterioration, as in status or wealth.
nounThe cause of such a fall; a critical blow or error.
Sentence Examples
Drink brought about his downfall.
When he was at the acme of his career, a scandal brought about his downfall.
His love for indigenous Mexican art became his downfall.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
His arrogance led to his ____ as the company's CEO.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Drink brought about his ____.
Word Origin & History
From down- + fall. In this spelling, from 16th century; spelled as two words from 13th century.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The Black Cats contributed to their own downfall for the only goal when Titus Bramble, making his first appearance since Boxing Day, and Michael Turner, let Phil Jones' cross bounce across the six-yard box as [Wayne] Rooney tucked in at the back post."
— 2012 May 13, Alistair Magowan, “Sunderland 0 – 1 Man Utd”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 09 May 2019:
"[T]he prominent character of leading young lady or heroine, which Paula was to personate, was really the most satisfactory in the whole list for her. For although she was to be wooed hard, there was just as much love-making among the remaining personages; while, as Somerset had understood the play, there could occur no flingings of her person upon her lover's neck, or agonized downfalls upon the stage, in her whole performance, [...]"
— 1880–1881, Thomas Hardy, chapter VII, in A Laodicean; or, The Castle of the De Stancys. A Story of To-day. […], volume II, London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, […], published 1881, →OCLC, book the third (De Stancy), page 147:
"[...] wants to make civilization his subject, he will have a hard time proceeding with the sentence unless collapse is in his active vocabulary, for he cannot say "our civilization will downfall" or "fall down.""
— 1977, Mina P. Shaughnessy, Errors and expectations: a guide for the teacher of basic writing:
"Common belief has been that in the future the number of middle managers will downfall due to empowerment and team-building."
— 1998, Peter Vink, Ernst A. P. Koningsveld, Steven Dhondt, Human factors in organizational design and management-VI:
"[...] As goodly air as ever From lunar orb downfell— Be it by hazard, Or supervened it by arrogancy?"
— 2008, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, Thus Spake Zarathustra:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
His arrogance led to his ____ as the company's CEO.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Drink brought about his ____.