eclipse

1 of 2

noun

i-ˈklips 

1

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

2

: a falling into obscurity or decline

also : the state of being eclipsed

his reputation has fallen into eclipse

3

: the state of being in eclipse plumage

Illustration of eclipse

• E earth
• M moon in solar eclipse
• P penumbra
• S sun
• U umbra

eclipse

2 of 2

verb

eclipsed; eclipsing

transitive verb

: to cause an eclipse of: such as

a

: obscure, darken

b

: to reduce in importance or repute

c

: surpass

her score eclipsed the old record

Synonyms of eclipse

Noun

• declination
• deterioration
• decline
• degradation
• descent

Verb

• surpass
• exceed
• top
• better

Examples of eclipse in a Sentence

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

Noun

That’s also called an eclipse, and for us, in the dramatography and in developing the story, this knowing and not knowing, what is visible and what is not visible also became important. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026

Its 520 lb-ft of torque eclipses its predecessor, the LT2, which offered 470 lb-ft of twist. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026

Verb

The world's largest rocket, eclipsing 400 feet when fully stacked, has so far only launched on flight tests from South Texas at SpaceX's Starbase headquarters. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Amoore finished with a career-high six 3-pointers, helping to easily eclipse her previous best of 14 points in a game. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

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

Phrases Containing eclipse

• annular eclipse
• eclipse plumage
• into eclipse
• lunar eclipse
• solar eclipse
• total eclipse

Rhymes for eclipse

• airships
• airstrips
• clerkships
• ellipse
• equips
• filmstrips
• gunships
• judgeships
• lightships
• outstrips
• parsnips
• spaceships

Kids Definition

eclipse

1 of 2 noun

i-ˈklips 

1

a

: the total or partial hiding of a planet, star, or moon by another

b

: the passing into the shadow of a planet, star, or moon

2

: a falling into disgrace or out of use or public favor

eclipse

2 of 2 verb

eclipsed; eclipsing

1

: to cause an eclipse of

2

a

: to reduce in importance

b

: to do or be much better than : outshine