collide

verb

col·​lide kə-ˈlīd 

collided; colliding

intransitive verb

1

: to come together with solid or direct impact

The car collided with a tree.

Two helicopters collided.

2

: clash

colliding cultures

Science and religion collided in the court.

Synonyms of collide

• clash
• conflict

Examples of collide in a Sentence

Two football players collided on the field.

the candidate had a reputation as a maverick whose positions often collided with the party platform

Recent Examples on the Web

Opened last fall, the resort rests where three ecosystems collide—the Mojave Desert, the Colorado Plateau, and the Great Basin—creating scenery that feels somewhat otherworldly. —Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

The incident occurred just two ⁠days after another deadly rail crash in Spain, in which two high-speed trains collided near Adamuz in the southern Córdoba province, killing 41 people. —Pau Mosquera, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026

According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the crash happened late Friday night when Aguilar crossed the center line and collided head-on with another vehicle on Amity Hill Road. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026

The pursuit ended when the car collided with a gate on El Cerrito Avenue, near Piedmont High School, police said. —Jason Green, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin collidere, from com- + laedere to injure by striking

First Known Use

1700, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for collide

• abide
• allied
• applied
• aside
• astride
• azide
• backside
• bankside
• bastide
• bayside
• bedside
• belied

Kids Definition

collide

verb

col·​lide kə-ˈlīd 

collided; colliding

1

: to come together with solid impact

the football players collided

2

: clash entry 1 sense 2a

their different outlooks collided