downfall
gb/dˈaʊnfˌɔl/ us/dˈaʊnfˌɔl/
B2
English
~ 9700
bukás, veszte, heves csapadék
NOUN
B2
1
bukás
B2
Usage pattern:
the downfall of [someone/something]
The corruption scandal led to the prime minister's downfall.
A korrupciós botrány a miniszterelnök bukásához vezetett.
Poor management was the company's downfall after years of rapid growth.
Évekig tartó gyors növekedés után a rossz vezetés okozta a cég bukását.
Historians still debate the causes of the empire's downfall.
His refusal to listen to advice brought about his downfall in the election.
The sudden economic crisis marked the downfall of several major banks.
Learner examples
The story is about the king's downfall.
A történet a király bukásáról szól.
Greed can be the downfall of a business.
A kapzsiság egy vállalkozás bukásához vezethet.
The war caused the downfall of the old government.
His downfall came when people learned about the lies.
The film shows the rise and downfall of a famous singer.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *downfall* as a verb (e.g., "The scandal downfalled him"). *Downfall* is only a noun; use verbs like "ruin," "destroy," or phrases like "lead to his downfall." Learners also confuse *downfall* with a normal physical fall; *downfall* is about losing power, status, or success, not simply falling to the ground.
Meaning
loss of power or success
Collocations
the downfall of the government
|political downfall
|his eventual downfall
|cause her downfall
|lead to their downfall
|bring about his downfall
Synonyms
ruin (Stresses complete destruction of a person's life or career, sometimes with a stronger emotional tone.)
|
demise (More formal; often used for the end of organizations, systems, or careers, not only political power.)
|
collapse (Emphasizes the sudden failure or breaking down of an organization or system.)
Antonyms
rise (Focuses on gaining power or status, the opposite of losing it.)
|
success (General positive result and achievement, the opposite of failure or downfall.)
Themes
politics
|business
|society
|history
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The time when a person or group loses power, position, or success and fails completely, often because of their own mistakes or bad behavior.
The loss of power, status, or success, especially the complete failure or end of a person or organization, often as a result of their own actions or weaknesses.
NOUN
B2
2
veszte
C1
Usage pattern:
[something] is [someone]'s downfall
Chocolate is my downfall; I cannot stop eating it at night.
A csokoládé a vesztem; éjszaka nem tudom abbahagyni az evését.
His pride was his downfall, because he never accepted help from anyone.
A büszkesége lett a veszte, mert soha senkitől nem fogadott el segítséget.
Social media proved her downfall when old posts resurfaced during the campaign.
Gambling became his downfall and destroyed his family life.
Her kindness, while admirable, was also her downfall in a very competitive industry.
Learner examples
Sweet food is my downfall when I try to eat healthily.
Az édesség a vesztem, amikor egészségesen próbálok enni.
His love of risk was his downfall.
A kockázat iránti szeretete lett a veszte.
For many students, phones are their downfall during exams.
Lying was his downfall in the relationship.
Her shyness was her downfall at work.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think *downfall* here means any small bad habit. In this sense it is usually a strong weakness or habit that actually causes failure or serious trouble, not just a minor flaw.
Meaning
main cause of failure
Collocations
be his downfall
|proved her downfall
|chocolate is my downfall
|pride was his downfall
|gambling was his downfall
|money was their downfall
Synonyms
weakness (Broad; can be any area where someone lacks control or strength, not always leading to complete failure.)
|
undoing (Very close in meaning; often used in similar contexts to show the specific cause of a failure.)
|
Achilles' heel (Figurative and more literary; emphasizes one critical weakness that can destroy an otherwise strong person.)
Antonyms
strength (A positive quality that helps someone succeed, the opposite of a trait that leads to failure.)
|
asset (A useful or valuable quality or thing that supports success, not failure.)
Themes
emotions
|habits
|personality
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A thing, habit, or part of a person's character that makes them fail or lose control.
A particular thing, habit, or personal quality that causes someone to fail or lose success, power, or control.
NOUN
C1
3
Usage pattern:
a heavy downfall of [rain/snow]
A sudden downfall of rain flooded the narrow streets.
A hirtelen lezúduló heves eső elárasztotta a szűk utcákat.
The match was stopped because of a heavy downfall of snow.
A mérkőzést az erős havazás miatt félbeszakították.
After a brief downfall, the sky cleared and the sun came out again.
Learner examples
We waited inside during the heavy downfall.
Bent vártunk a heves csapadék idején.
A downfall of rain started in the afternoon.
Délután heves esőzés kezdődött.
The road was white after a strong downfall of snow.
The children ran outside as soon as the downfall ended.
The city had a big downfall last night.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse *downfall* with the more common word *downpour*. In modern everyday English, *downpour* is usually preferred, especially for rain. *Downfall* in this sense can sound a bit formal, old-fashioned, or regional.
Meaning
heavy fall of rain or snow
Collocations
a heavy downfall
|a sudden downfall
|downfall of rain
|downfall of snow
|a brief downfall
|a winter downfall
Synonyms
downpour (More common modern word for heavy rain; does not refer to snow.)
|
shower (Usually less intense or shorter than a heavy downfall.)
Antonyms
dry spell (A period with little or no rain, the opposite of a heavy fall of rain.)
Themes
weather
|nature
Definition
A short time when a lot of rain or snow falls suddenly.
A sudden, heavy fall of rain or snow.
Grammar
Dictionary form
downfall
IPA
GB/dˈaʊnfˌɔl/
US/dˈaʊnfˌɔl/
Syllables & stress
down - fall (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (down)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: downfall
- Plural: downfalls
Word family
Expressions
be someone's downfall
1/bˈi sˈʌmwˌʌnz dˈaʊnfˌɔl/
idiom
be the cause of failure
To be the main reason why a person fails or loses success or control.
Examples
- Gambling was his downfall, and it cost him his job and family.
- Her need to be perfect may be her downfall in such a fast-moving company.
- If he keeps lying, it will be his downfall one day.
bring about someone's downfall
1/bɹˈɪŋ əbˈaʊt sˈʌmwˌʌnz dˈaʊnfˌɔl/
fixed phrase
bring about someone's failure
To make a person lose power or success, usually through actions or events.
Examples
- The leaked emails brought about the senator's downfall.
- Internal conflict brought about the downfall of the organization.
lead to someone's downfall
1/lˈid tə sˈʌmwˌʌnz dˈaʊnfˌɔl/
fixed phrase
cause loss of power or success
To cause a person to lose power, status, or success and to fail completely.
Examples
- The corruption charges finally led to his downfall.
- Her poor decisions in the crisis led to her downfall as CEO.
the downfall of [someone/something]
1/ðə dˈaʊnfˌɔl əv sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
failure of a specific person or thing
The time when a particular person, group, or system loses power or success and fails.
Examples
- The book tells the story of the downfall of the royal family.
- Many people think this war marked the downfall of the empire.