What does dropping mean?
'Dropping' is the noun form of the verb 'to drop,' denoting the act of letting something fall, releasing it, or causing it to descend. It also carries important figurative senses: the discontinuation or abandonment of something, as when authorities announce the dropping of charges against a suspect, or the deliberate omission of a detail from an account. In commercial and statistical language, 'dropping' can describe a gradual decline, as in a dropping of prices or temperatures. The word appears in several well-established expressions, including 'dropping hints,' where information is conveyed indirectly, and 'name-dropping,' the practice of mentioning famous people to impress others. Derived from Old English roots shared with words like 'drip' and 'droplet,' 'dropping' is versatile across registers, appearing equally at home in legal reporting, casual conversation, and scientific description. Its flexibility makes it a quietly essential word in English.
nounThe action or process of letting something fall or causing it to fall; the act of ceasing to include, continue, or mention something.
- The act or process of letting or making something fall.
- The act of discontinuing, omitting, or abandoning something such as a plan, charge, or topic.
- A gradual decline in amount, level, or quality.
"The dropping of the atomic bomb remains one of history's most debated decisions."
"Careless dropping of litter is punishable by a fine."
"With the dropping of all charges, the defendant walked free after two years."
Every New Year's Eve, millions watch the famous 'ball dropping' in Times Square — a tradition born in 1907 from a nautical timekeeping device called the time ball.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dropping
Dropping derives from the verb 'drop,' which comes from Old English 'dropa,' meaning a small quantity of liquid, of Germanic origin. Cognates appear in related Germanic languages, such as Middle Dutch 'droppe.' The word has been part of English since its earliest recorded stages, with the noun 'drop' attested in Old English texts and extended figurative uses developing through the Middle English period. Related formations include 'drip' and 'droplet,' which share the same Germanic root.
Related word forms
How dropping is actually used
Often used in formal and journalistic contexts, especially in phrases like 'the dropping of charges' or 'the dropping of a proposal.' In everyday speech it more commonly appears as part of fixed expressions like 'dropping hints' or 'name-dropping.'
Easily confused with dropping
'Drop' is the verb or a single falling quantity (a drop of water), while 'dropping' is the continuous noun form describing the act of falling or omitting.