ellipsis
noun
el·lip·sis i-ˈlip-səs 
e-
plural ellipses i-ˈlip-ˌsēz
e-
1
a
: the omission of one or more words that are obviously understood but that must be supplied to make a construction grammatically complete
b
: a sudden leap from one topic to another
2
: marks or a mark (such as … ) indicating an omission (as of words) or a pause
Example Sentences
“Begin when ready” for “Begin when you are ready” is an example of ellipsis.
Recent Examples on the Web Next, tap the ellipsis icon in the upper-right hand corner. 
Yoni Heisler, BGR, 16 Aug. 2022 That icon will continue to appear on the taskbar alongside the new ellipsis icon. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 21 July 2022 Busing of school children began in the 1970s, Burns noted (at the end of the first paragraph, where the ellipsis appears). Bill Conerly, Forbes, 15 July 2022 The exhibition functions more like an ellipsis, an open-ended invitation. Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2022 For whatever reason, I’ve been drawn to ellipsis and anecdote lately and become more impatient with artful transition. Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2021 Whether with the definitiveness of a period, an emphatic exclamation, or an inconclusive ellipsis. Roy S. Johnson | Rjohnson@al.com, al, 26 Aug. 2021 Perhaps because Martin and Hampson have so much to cover and so little time in which to do it, Feel Good concludes with more of an ellipsis than a period. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2021 An earlier version of this article, which no longer cites him, incorrectly omitted the ellipsis from his quote. Betsy Mckay, WSJ, 27 Apr. 2021 See More
Yoni Heisler, BGR, 16 Aug. 2022 That icon will continue to appear on the taskbar alongside the new ellipsis icon. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 21 July 2022 Busing of school children began in the 1970s, Burns noted (at the end of the first paragraph, where the ellipsis appears). Bill Conerly, Forbes, 15 July 2022 The exhibition functions more like an ellipsis, an open-ended invitation. Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2022 For whatever reason, I’ve been drawn to ellipsis and anecdote lately and become more impatient with artful transition. Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2021 Whether with the definitiveness of a period, an emphatic exclamation, or an inconclusive ellipsis. Roy S. Johnson | Rjohnson@al.com, al, 26 Aug. 2021 Perhaps because Martin and Hampson have so much to cover and so little time in which to do it, Feel Good concludes with more of an ellipsis than a period. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2021 An earlier version of this article, which no longer cites him, incorrectly omitted the ellipsis from his quote. Betsy Mckay, WSJ, 27 Apr. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin, from Greek elleipsis ellipsis, ellipse, from elleipein to leave out, fall short, from en in + leipein to leave — more at in, loan
First Known Use
1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
- hittable
- hitter
- hitters
- Hitti
- hitting
- hitting (on or upon)
- hitting (up)
- hitting (upon)
- hitting back
- hitting it big
- hitting it off
- hitting on or upon
- hitting out at
- hitting the big time
- hitting the bottle
- hitting the ceiling
- hitting the hay
- hitting the road
- hitting the roof
- hitting up
- hitting upon
- hitting-and-running
- Hittite
- Hittite hieroglyph
- Hittite hieroglyphic