drop away
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To become less or fewer.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Eustace gaped at him in amazement. When his urbanity dropped away from him, as now, he had an innocence of expression which was almost infantile. It was as if the world had never touched him at all.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “drop away” mean?
To become less or fewer.
Is “drop away” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.