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Crestfallen Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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crestfallen

crest-fall-en

🇺🇸 /ˈkɹɛstˌfɔɫən/ · 🇬🇧 /kɹˈɛstfɔːlən/

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

feeling

feeling shame or humiliation; dejected

Synonyms

dejected, disheartened, downcast.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
crestfallen

Used when someone feels deeply disappointed or sad, especially because something they hoped for or expected did not happen.

  • After hearing that he didn't get the job, he looked crestfallen
  • She felt crestfallen when her proposal was rejected
dejected

Used when someone appears sad or in low spirits, often with a sense of giving up or feeling of failure.

  • He was dejected after failing the exam
  • She walked home, dejected, after the argument with her friend
disheartened

Appropriate in situations where someone feels discouraged or has lost hope, often due to setbacks or difficulties. It may imply a sense of giving up.

  • The team felt disheartened after their third consecutive loss
  • She seemed disheartened by the endless challenges she faced
downcast

Most suitable when describing someone who is feeling very sad or who has lost confidence. This word often suggests a visible expression of sadness.

  • His downcast eyes revealed his sadness
  • Sarah felt downcast after hearing the bad news

Examples of usage

  • She looked crestfallen when she didn't get the job.
  • After the team lost the championship, they were crestfallen.
  • The crestfallen student received a failing grade on the exam.
Context #2 | Noun

appearance

a fallen crest, especially the comb or tuft of feathers on a bird's head

Synonyms

comb, plume, tuft.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
crestfallen

Used to describe someone who is very disappointed or sad, usually after something unfortunate has happened.

  • After hearing the bad news, he looked crestfallen.
  • She was crestfallen when she did not get the job.
tuft

Refers to a small, dense clump of something, such as hair, grass, or threads. It can also describe something that sticks out in a clump.

  • A tuft of grass grew between the cracks in the sidewalk.
  • He had a tuft of hair sticking up at the back of his head.
plume

Used to describe a long, soft feather or a group of feathers, typically worn as an ornament or used to describe a shape resembling a feather, often in reference to smoke or water.

  • The knight wore a colorful plume on his helmet.
  • A plume of smoke rose into the sky after the explosion.
comb

A tool or device used for arranging or cleaning hair or fibers. It can also refer to the action of using this tool.

  • She used a fine-toothed comb to untangle her hair.
  • The shepherd combed the wool from the sheep.

Examples of usage

  • The peacock strutted proudly, showing off its colorful crest.
  • The cockatoo's crest stood up when it was excited.
  • The bird's crest was ruffled after the rain.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “crestfallen”

Crestfallen is a 3-syllable adjective and noun (crest-fall-en). It is pronounced /ˈkɹɛstˌfɔɫən/ in American English and /kɹˈɛstfɔːlən/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 2 meanings, 6 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #30,372 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'crestfallen'

The word 'crestfallen' originated in the early 17th century from the combination of 'crest' and 'fallen'. The term 'crest' refers to a comb or tuft of feathers on the head of a bird, which can rise or fall depending on the bird's emotional state. When the crest falls, it signifies a sense of defeat or dejection. Over time, 'crestfallen' evolved to describe a person feeling ashamed or humiliated, mirroring the image of a drooping bird crest.

See also: crest.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,372 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.