lapse into

verb

lapsed into; lapsing into; lapses into
1
: to begin using or doing (something that should be avoided) for a short period of time
He's a good writer, but he occasionally lapses into jargon.
2
: to begin to be in (a worse or less active state or condition)
The crowd lapsed into silence.
The patient lapsed into a coma.
The society lapsed into decline.

Examples of lapse into in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Although many stretches of Route 66 have lapsed into decay, the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean are a reminder of the pursuits made possible by the road over the last century. Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026 Too soon will arrive Lionel Messi’s turn to lapse into memory. Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026 Handling such weighty concepts, a less deft hand might have lapsed into melodrama. Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 6 Apr. 2026 Her potential to reimagine rap in her own image is too high to excuse these lapses into dreck. Mano Sundaresan, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lapse into

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Cite this Entry

“Lapse into.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lapse%20into. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

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