elapse — to pass or go by (especially of time)
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to pass or go by (especially of time)
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪˈlæps/
Example Sentences
- Only five minutes had elapsed, but it felt like an eternity during the boring lecture.
- Two decades have elapsed since the invention of the smartphone.
- She kept checking her watch, amazed at how slowly time elapsed during her diet.
elapse
VERB[/ɪˈlæps/]
to pass or go by (especially of time)
Three hours elapse as he waits anxiously at the train station.
As years elapse, the clock will collapse without a lapse!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin elapsus, the past participle of elabi, meaning 'to slip away' or 'to glide out'. The word originally described physical slipping or sliding, but evolved metaphorically to express the passage of time, as if time slips away like water through one's fingers.
Breakdown
e- (out, away) + labi (to slip, to slide) + -sus (past participle suffix). The prefix e- intensifies the sense of movement outward, while labi captures the smooth, slipping motion.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Only five minutes had elapsed, but it felt like an eternity during the boring lecture.”
“Two decades have elapsed since the invention of the smartphone.”
“She kept checking her watch, amazed at how slowly time elapsed during her diet.”
“Several months elapsed before he finally replied to my text message.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.