eclipse

noun

\ i-ˈklips

Essential Meaning of eclipse

1 : an occasion when the sun looks like it is completely or partially covered with a dark circle because the moon is between the sun and the Earth a total/partial solar eclipse an eclipse of the sun

2 : an occasion when the moon looks like it is completely or partially covered with a dark circle because the Earth's shadow is on it a total/partial lunar eclipse

3 : a loss of power, success, popularity, etc. the civilization's sudden/eventual eclipse The popularity of television led to the eclipse of the radio drama. See More Examplesan author who has fallen/gone into eclipse [=who has become much less popular] an artist whose reputation/career has long been in eclipseHide

Full Definition of eclipse

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

eclipse

verb

eclipsed; eclipsing

Definition of eclipse (Entry 2 of 2)

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 & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More About eclipse

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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 The career of Garrison Keillor, the folksy host who revived the American tradition of gathering every week in front of the radio, appears to be in something of an eclipse. — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2021 It will be followed on the next New Moon—December 4, 2021—with that most dramatic kind of eclipse of all, a total lunar eclipse. — Jamie Carter, Forbes, 11 June 2021 Coming up in the Cleveland area is a partial eclipse in October 2023, and a total eclipse in April 2024. — David Petkiewicz, cleveland, 10 June 2021 Chicagoans witnessed a partial eclipse of the sun on Thursday morning, opportunely timed with the announcement of Adler Planetarium’s partial reopening. — Maggie Prosser, chicagotribune.com, 10 June 2021 The eclipse will be visible from sunrise about 5:50 a.m. until 9:11 a.m. on June 10. — Kyle Davidson, Detroit Free Press, 8 June 2021 For those living in places where the eclipse wasn't visible, there were livestreams available. — Nick Perry, Star Tribune, 26 May 2021 For those living in places where the eclipse wasn’t visible, there were livestreams available. — Nick Perry, Anchorage Daily News, 26 May 2021 People will need a clear view of the horizon and appropriate eye protection to see either eclipse. — Vanessa Arredondo, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 June 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Stocks are solidly higher on Wall Street in afternoon trading Monday, placing the S&P 500 on pace to recoup its losses from last week and eclipse its all-time high. — Alex Veiga, ajc, 23 Aug. 2021 United collected 21 points in the standings during the 23-match, pandemic shortened season, and they're already set to match or eclipse that sum with their next result. — Pat Brennan, The Enquirer, 27 July 2021 The winner-take-all economy has created modern fortunes that by some measures eclipse those of John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie. — Jesse Eisinger, ProPublica, 29 May 2021 Senior Mykaila Pickard displayed lethal shooting from behind the arc at Palmer High School, draining six 3-pointers to not only help her team cruise to its third blowout of the tournament but to reach and eclipse an impressive career milestone. — Josh Reed, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Mar. 2021 The city did not eclipse 100 homicides until October last year. — J. Scott Trubey, ajc, 22 Aug. 2021 That would eclipse the record of 70 homicides set in 1987. — oregonlive, 25 July 2021 If the numbers continue at this pace, the number of homicides this year could eclipse that of 2017. — Tandra Smith | Tsmith@al.com, al, 15 July 2021 This year's number would eclipse last year's as the highest debt level since the end of World War II. — Martin Crutsinger, Star Tribune, 1 July 2021

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.

History and Etymology for eclipse

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