Crestfallen: meaning, definitions and examples

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crestfallen

[ ˈkrestfɔːlən ]

^{Context #1}

feeling

feeling shame or humiliation; dejected

Synonyms

dejected, disheartened, downcast

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}

appearance

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

Synonyms

comb, plume, tuft

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

Translations of the word "crestfallen" in other languages:

🇵🇹 abatido

🇮🇳 उदास

🇩🇪 niedergeschlagen

🇮🇩 murung

🇺🇦 зневірений

🇵🇱 przygnębiony

🇯🇵 落胆した

🇫🇷 abattu

🇪🇸 abatido

🇹🇷 morali bozuk

🇰🇷 풀이 죽은

🇸🇦 مكتئب

🇨🇿 sklíčený

🇸🇰 skleslý

🇨🇳 沮丧

🇸🇮 potrt

🇮🇸 niðurdreginn

🇰🇿 көңілсіз

🇬🇪 დაბნეული

🇦🇿 üzgün

🇲🇽 abatido

Word origin

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.