relapse

noun re·lapse \ ri-ˈlaps , ˈrē-ˌlaps \

|Updated on: 18 Aug 2018

Examples: relapse in a Sentence

Definition of relapse

1 : the act or an instance of backsliding, worsening, or subsiding

2 : a recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement

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See relapse defined for kids

Examples of relapse in a Sentence

Everyone thought she was well until a sudden relapse sent her back to the hospital.
a drug addict who has had a relapse
a drug addict who has a history of relapse

Recent Examples of relapse from the Web

As part of approval, the company will create a registry to follow patients for 15 years to monitor for relapse and possible side effects.

— marie mccullough, Philly.com, "FDA expands approval for world's first T-cell therapy," 1 May 2018
The talented teacher's dream of reinventing a children's theater company helped him fight through relapses and finally get clean.

— domenica bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star, "Indianapolis Colts chaplain, 'Master Chef' competitor to tell tales at IndyStar Storytellers," 12 Apr. 2018
Other apps fit into the space after rehab: Outfits like WeConnect and Sober Grid operate like social networks for people to stay connected post-treatment, while Triggr Health uses machine learning to predict when a patient is headed for a relapse.

— zachary siegel, WIRED, "Addiction Rehab is Broken. Can Technology Fix It?," 1 Apr. 2018
But what the evidence does show is that lifting, starting at just two days per week, can help ease the burden and, once someone is in recovery, prevent relapse.

— brad stulberg, Outside Online, "Lifting Weights Helps Ease Anxiety and Depression," 5 July 2018
Studies show the drugs, along with counseling and a support system, can lessen the risks of relapse.

— beth warren, The Courier-Journal, "Tired of going to funerals, this doctor treats addiction with drugs," 21 June 2018
Chrostowski shared that these three days are where there is a higher chance of relapse versus other times of the week.

— alyssa alfano, cleveland.com, "Medina County Drug Abuse Commission hears grant request for Recovery Center," 3 Apr. 2018
Physicians treating pain in patients with a distant history of addiction can unwittingly put patients at risk of relapse by prescribing opioids without appropriate counseling.

— melissa stein, STAT, "Privacy laws are hurting the care of patients with addiction," 13 July 2018
The Spanish coach stepped down as Barcelona manager in 2013 after suffering a relapse of throat cancer - the disease that eventually ended his life.

— SI.com, "'We Don't Forget You': Javier Mascherano Pays Tribute to Former Barcelona Coach Tito Vilanova," 26 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'relapse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of relapse

Middle English, from Medieval Latin relapsus, from Latin relabi to slide back, from re- + labi to slide — more at sleep

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First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

relapse

verb re·lapse \ ri-ˈlaps \

Definition of relapse

relapsed; relapsing

intransitive verb

1 : to slip or fall back into a former worse state

2 : sink, subside

relapse into deep thought

—

relapser

noun

See relapse defined for English-language learners

Examples of relapse in a Sentence

If you don't continue your treatment, you could relapse.
Malaria can relapse years after the original infection.
The country soon relapsed into chaos.
She stayed out of trouble for a long time, but then she relapsed into her old ways.

Recent Examples of relapse from the Web

Another common withdrawal symptom is relapse itself.

— The Economist, "Welsh prisons are much harsher than England’s on opioid treatment," 12 July 2018
Two of the beta-thalassemia patients in Bluebird’s clinical trials who have been followed for the longest period of time have relapsed since the company’s previous update last December.

— adam feuerstein, STAT, "New Bluebird data show promising benefits for gene therapy, if they last," 15 June 2018
That isn’t necessarily surprising: Treating addiction takes time, and even people who take the right treatment steps can relapse.

— naomi schaefer riley, WSJ, "Judicial Tough Love Helps Addicted Mothers Stay Clean," 25 May 2018
Just six months later, six months into her pregnancy, Josh relapsed.

— sarah schreiber, Good Housekeeping, "Heartbreaking Photo Documentary Captures True Love in the Face of Cancer," 22 Dec. 2016
Sheldon’s camera is ever present, hovering, never intruding, but capturing the misery of detox, the fleeting joy of a birthday and the tears in a mother’s eyes as a son relapses.

— jeffrey fleishman, latimes.com, "Documentary films explore the despair of America's heroin and opioid epidemic," 6 July 2018
This book is concerned with relapsing-remitting MS.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "The Inward Empire," 27 June 2018
Others said that because so few women have died or relapsed after being treated with the drug, longer followup may be needed to make sure the findings hold up before guidelines should be changed.

— Washington Post, "Shorter drug treatment OK for many breast cancer patients," 16 May 2018
Others said that because so few women have died or relapsed after being treated with the drug, longer followup may be needed to make sure the findings hold up before guidelines should be changed.

— NBC News, "Shorter drug treatment OK for many breast cancer patients," 16 May 2018

First Known Use of relapse

circa 1534

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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RELAPSE Defined for English Language Learners

relapse

noun

Definition of relapse for English Language Learners

: the return of an illness after a period of improvement
: a return to bad behavior that you had stopped doing

relapse

verb

Definition of relapse for English Language Learners

: to become ill again after a period of improvement in health
of an illness : to return or become worse after leaving or improving for a period of time
: to return to a bad condition, form of behavior, etc.