lapse into
phrasal 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
The psychological damage was intensified by the way her own mother had lapsed into illness soon after her birth.
—
Geoff Dyer, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
As Leon’s production toils blandly along, Washington employs a light, high delivery, lapsing into vagueness and singsong.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2025
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly in honor of the movie's 30th anniversary,director Pete Segal recalls the late Farley entertaining himself by lapsing into impressions of his hero, fellow Saturday Night Live legend John Belushi.
—Mike Miller, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2025
Owen lapsed into a coma and died a few hours later.
—Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lapse into
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Geoff Dyer, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
As Leon’s production toils blandly along, Washington employs a light, high delivery, lapsing into vagueness and singsong.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2025
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly in honor of the movie's 30th anniversary,director Pete Segal recalls the late Farley entertaining himself by lapsing into impressions of his hero, fellow Saturday Night Live legend John Belushi.
—Mike Miller, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2025
Owen lapsed into a coma and died a few hours later.
—Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lapse into
Cite this Entry
“Lapse into.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lapse%20into. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
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