elapse
1 of 2verb
i-ˈlaps 
elapsed; elapsing
intransitive verb
: pass, go by
four years elapsed before he returned
elapse
2 of 2noun
: passage
returned after an elapse of 15 years
Synonyms
Verb
- break off
- break up
- cease
- close
- conclude
- dead-end
- determine
- die
- discontinue
- end
- expire
- finish
- go
- halt
- lapse
- leave off
- let up
- pass
- quit
- stop
- terminate
- wind up
- wink (out)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb in those coin-operated binoculars at scenic areas your viewing time seems to elapse almost before it has begun
Recent Examples on the Web
Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 2 July 2022 Yet more than 70 minutes would elapse before the gunman was shot and killed by officers who stormed the room. Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 23 June 2022 Often three or four years can elapse between the time when a company begins to design a new car from scratch and the start of its series production. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 9 June 2022 The wearer can set the alarm based on the number of hours that should elapse before the alarm rings. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2022 As time went on, however, many of these benefits expired or were struck down in courts or permitted to elapse by Congress. Grace Segers, The New Republic, 25 Apr. 2022 Also, how much time had to elapse between the balloon landing and the actual tip-off of the game? Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2022 In the end, 20 months would elapse before Hegerberg played again. New York Times, 23 Mar. 2022 This month, the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, which Haaland oversees, allowed a 45-day review period to elapse without taking action on the agreement. Dara Kam, sun-sentinel.com, 19 Aug. 2021 Caitlin Ostroff, WSJ, 26 June 2022 See More
Verb
Let more time elapse, and if her distancing continues, talk to her about it then. Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 2 July 2022 Yet more than 70 minutes would elapse before the gunman was shot and killed by officers who stormed the room. Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 23 June 2022 Often three or four years can elapse between the time when a company begins to design a new car from scratch and the start of its series production. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 9 June 2022 The wearer can set the alarm based on the number of hours that should elapse before the alarm rings. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2022 As time went on, however, many of these benefits expired or were struck down in courts or permitted to elapse by Congress. Grace Segers, The New Republic, 25 Apr. 2022 Also, how much time had to elapse between the balloon landing and the actual tip-off of the game? Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2022 In the end, 20 months would elapse before Hegerberg played again. New York Times, 23 Mar. 2022 This month, the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, which Haaland oversees, allowed a 45-day review period to elapse without taking action on the agreement. Dara Kam, sun-sentinel.com, 19 Aug. 2021 Noun
The day marks the elapse of a 30-day grace period since the country was due to pay the equivalent of $100 million in dollars and euros to bondholders. Caitlin Ostroff, WSJ, 26 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Latin elapsus, past participle of elabi, from e- + labi to slip — more at sleep
First Known Use
Verb
1644, in the meaning defined above
Noun
circa 1677, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
elapse
verb
i-ˈlaps
elapsed; elapsing
: to slip past : go by
Nearly a year elapsed before his return.
elapsing
verb
as in expiring
to come to an end in those coin-operated binoculars at scenic areas your viewing time seems to elapse almost before it has begun Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- expiring
- ending
- stopping
- ceasing
- halting
- concluding
- passing
- lapsing
- closing
- dying
- terminating
- finishing
- determining
- stalling
- going
- discontinuing
- breaking off
- winding up
- leaving off
- quitting
- dead-ending
- letting up
- breaking up
- pausing
- biting the dust
- winking (out)
- suspending
- staying
- knocking off
- cutting out
- giving over
- breaking down
- winding down
- abating
- laying off (of)
- packing (up or in)
- refraining (from)
- desisting (from)
- conking (out)
- petering (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continuing
- persisting
- prolonging
- hanging on
- protracting
- extending
- drawing out