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

Debbie believes Judith also lives a regular life, so she is stunned when their worlds violently collide at a political party. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 July 2026

Authorities said the personal watercraft collided with a recreational boat. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026

Wednesday’s Code Red heat warning in Allegheny County is colliding with one of Pittsburgh’s biggest summer events, and emergency doctors say that mix of 100‑degree temperatures, crowded bridges and salty drinks is a dangerous combination. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 14 July 2026

The driver then hit a large landscape boulder and collided with the base of a streetlight on the east side of the service road, police said. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1646, 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