10 English Phrasal Verbs with Drop
with definitions and example sentences
Phrasal verbs can feel a bit tricky sometimes. One little word like drop can suddenly have all these extra meanings when you add a small preposition. But the good news is that these verbs are super common in everyday English and once you know them, you’ll hear them everywhere.
Today, let’s look at 10 phrasal verbs with drop that you can start using straight away.
Drop by / Drop in / Drop over / Drop around
These all mean more or less the same thing: to visit someone informally, usually without a big plan. They’re very conversational, and you’ll hear them a lot in British English.
Why don’t you drop by for a coffee later?
She dropped in to see her grandmother on her way home.
He dropped over last night with some cake.
In small villages, neighbours often drop around unannounced.
These are great if you want to sound natural and friendly.
2. Drop off
This one has two useful meanings:
To take someone or something somewhere.
I’ll drop you off at the airport at 6 am.
Can you drop the parcel off at the post office?
To fall asleep.
He dropped off during the lecture.
I was so tired, I dropped off as soon as my head hit the pillow.
3. Drop back / Drop behind
Both of these mean to move into a lower position or lose progress.
The runner dropped back after leading the race.
I dropped behind with my work after I was ill.
She dropped back to the middle of the group.
4. Drop out
This one is very common, especially in conversations about education. It means to leave school, university, or a course before finishing. It can also be used more generally if you stop taking part in something.
She dropped out of university in her second year.
Lots of runners dropped out of the marathon because of the heat.
He dropped out of the competition early on.
5. Drop away
This means to gradually decrease or become less.
Attendance at the club has dropped away in recent years.
Interest in the project slowly dropped away after the funding ended.
6. Drop through
This is often used with the expression “plans drop through” — meaning they fail or don’t happen in the end.
Our holiday plans dropped through at the last minute.
The deal dropped through when the company went bankrupt.