Illustration of eclipse
- E earth
- M moon in solar eclipse
- P penumbra
- S sun
- U umbra
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a
: the total or partial obscuring of one celestial body by another
b
: the passing into the shadow of a celestial body compare occultation, transit
eclipsed; eclipsing
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Noun
an eclipse of the sun
The popularity of television led to the eclipse of the radio drama.
an artist whose reputation has long been in eclipse
Verb
The sun was partially eclipsed by the moon.
Train travel was eclipsed by the growth of commercial airlines.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ashley Strickland, CNN, 6 Jan. 2023
Because from that location during the eclipse the International Space Station also transited the Sun!
—Discover Magazine, 16 Oct. 2022
The moon during an eclipse above the Salgo Castle in Salgotarjan, Hungary.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2022
Those in Hawaii will be able to see every stage of the eclipse, NASA said.
—Li Cohen, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2022
And lucky people in Alaska and Hawaii will be able to see every stage of the eclipse.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 7 Nov. 2022
At the peak of the eclipse, the moon will be 242,740 miles away, according to NASA scientists.
—Marcia Dunn, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Nov. 2022
At the peak of the eclipse, the moon will be 242740 miles (390,653 kilometers) away, according to NASA scientists.
—Time, 6 Nov. 2022
The eclipse will begin in the early hours of Friday morning, at about 1 a.m. EST (10 p.m. PST).
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 17 Nov. 2021
Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 16 Dec. 2022
One of the goals of the new joint venture is to more equitably share profits with filmmakers, including creators and crew members, as video streaming begins to eclipse traditional theatrical release formats.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2022
However, Tatis, Jr. will not eclipse $30 million in annual salary until 2029 during his age 30 season according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts.
—Forbes, 13 Nov. 2021
From afar, the four-day trade show looks like a Super Bowl for dapper dandies worldwide except the action takes place on the streets of Florence and the pomp and circumstance certainly eclipse the American tradition.
—Isiah Magsino, Town & Country, 12 Jan. 2023
And that is where Baja Sub really shines — the vegetable side dishes that not only hold their own but often eclipse the main courses.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2022
In a recent research note, Mr. Scholes predicted that the fourth quarter of 2022 would be the first where pricing would eclipse 2019 levels since the pandemic began.
—Jacob Passy, WSJ, 29 Nov. 2022
That would be the longest since World War II and eclipse the downturn that followed the 2008 global financial crisis, though the central bank said that any declines in GDP heading into 2024 would likely be relatively small.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN, 11 Nov. 2022
But if Mack can stay fit, his teaming with Joey Bosa, another Pro Bowler, gives the Chargers a 1-2, pass-rushing punch that few teams can eclipse.
—Jay Paris, Forbes, 31 July 2022
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Noun
When this occurs, Earth casts two shadows on the moon during the eclipse.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 6 Jan. 2023
Because from that location during the eclipse the International Space Station also transited the Sun!
—Discover Magazine, 16 Oct. 2022
The moon during an eclipse above the Salgo Castle in Salgotarjan, Hungary.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2022
Those in Hawaii will be able to see every stage of the eclipse, NASA said.
—Li Cohen, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2022
And lucky people in Alaska and Hawaii will be able to see every stage of the eclipse.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 7 Nov. 2022
At the peak of the eclipse, the moon will be 242,740 miles away, according to NASA scientists.
—Marcia Dunn, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Nov. 2022
At the peak of the eclipse, the moon will be 242740 miles (390,653 kilometers) away, according to NASA scientists.
—Time, 6 Nov. 2022
The eclipse will begin in the early hours of Friday morning, at about 1 a.m. EST (10 p.m. PST).
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 17 Nov. 2021
Verb
The Trojans did not eclipse 100 yards of total offense until late in the third quarter.
—Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 16 Dec. 2022
One of the goals of the new joint venture is to more equitably share profits with filmmakers, including creators and crew members, as video streaming begins to eclipse traditional theatrical release formats.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2022
However, Tatis, Jr. will not eclipse $30 million in annual salary until 2029 during his age 30 season according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts.
—Forbes, 13 Nov. 2021
From afar, the four-day trade show looks like a Super Bowl for dapper dandies worldwide except the action takes place on the streets of Florence and the pomp and circumstance certainly eclipse the American tradition.
—Isiah Magsino, Town & Country, 12 Jan. 2023
And that is where Baja Sub really shines — the vegetable side dishes that not only hold their own but often eclipse the main courses.
—Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2022
In a recent research note, Mr. Scholes predicted that the fourth quarter of 2022 would be the first where pricing would eclipse 2019 levels since the pandemic began.
—Jacob Passy, WSJ, 29 Nov. 2022
That would be the longest since World War II and eclipse the downturn that followed the 2008 global financial crisis, though the central bank said that any declines in GDP heading into 2024 would likely be relatively small.
—Hanna Ziady, CNN, 11 Nov. 2022
But if Mack can stay fit, his teaming with Joey Bosa, another Pro Bowler, gives the Chargers a 1-2, pass-rushing punch that few teams can eclipse.
—Jay Paris, Forbes, 31 July 2022
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'eclipse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
borrowed from Middle English eclipse, clips, borrowed from Anglo-French eclyps, eclypse, borrowed from Latin eclīpsis, borrowed from Greek ékleipsis "abandonment, failure, cessation, obscuring of a celestial body by another," from ekleípein "to leave out, abandon, cease, die, be obscured (of a celestial body)" (from ek- ec- + leípein "to leave, quit, be missing") + -sis -sis — more at delinquent entry 2
Verb
Middle English eclypsen, clypsen, derivative of eclipse eclipse entry 1, probably after Medieval Latin eclīpsāre or Middle French esclipser
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of eclipse was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing eclipse
Dictionary Entries Near eclipse
Cite this Entry
“Eclipse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eclipse. Accessed 29 Jan. 2023.
Kids Definition
eclipse
1 of 2 nouneclipse
2 of 2 verb
eclipsed; eclipsing
More from Merriam-Webster on eclipse
Nglish: Translation of eclipse for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of eclipse for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about eclipse
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