ELAPSE Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

elapse

verb

i-ˈlaps

Definition of elapse

as in to expire

to come to an end in those coin-operated binoculars at scenic areas your viewing time seems to elapse almost before it has begun

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of elapse The prototypical obituary subject lived to be 81, which meant 44 years had elapsed between the accomplishment and, in the cases of the many obscure and quirky characters, their public aggrandizement. — Sam Roberts, Longreads, 11 Aug. 2026 Because so much time has elapsed since Disney last covered the Super Bowl, the company wasn’t burdened by the same degree of obligations to incumbent sponsors that CBS, Fox and NBC face. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 5 Aug. 2026 Several seconds elapsed before the Baltimore fielders headed back to the dugout. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026 Five years have elapsed since Shannon Lay’s last album of original songs, and in the interim, the Los Angeles musician has been studying the proverbial blade. — Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for elapse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elapse

Verb

Bryce Underwood launched a Hail Mary well out of the end zone as time seemed to expire on the Wolverines to give WMU an improbable upset victory late Saturday night in Ann Arbor.

— Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Under the contract that expired June 30, UCLA had been providing specialty care to 9,000 medically frail patients from Health Care LA, an association of nonprofit clinics that serve patients covered by Medi-Cal, the state program for the poor.

— Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of expire

Verb

Then a supplier’s API certificate expires overnight, a core system loses its data feed and the business stops for half a day.

— Maman Ibrahim, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Room for Disagreement A challenging path to legislation won’t stop AI from dominating the political landscape.

— Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of stop

Verb

Season five ended abruptly after a video leaked of Taylor Frankie Paul throwing a stool at her ex Dakota Mortensen and almost hitting her daughter.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
The World Health Organization said more than 500 people were killed in a weeklong period ending Saturday, a sharp increase.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of end

Verb

López’s attorney sent Rivas and her group a cease-and-desist letter last month, citing trademark infringement and deceptive and unfair trade practices, the letter shows.

— Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
Hundreds of passengers were crammed in there with us, many of them families with children, all waiting for the Russian onslaught to cease.

— Eric Schmidt, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of cease

Verb

Your essay concludes with a reflection on the financial difficulties that come with working in print journalism.

— Maggie McGowan, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
German officials said police findings, intelligence information and the methods used in the attack led Berlin to conclude Russia was responsible.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of conclude

Verb

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that Ukraine is ready to halt its strikes on Russian territory if allies can secure a genuine Russian commitment not to hit Ukraine's critical infrastructure.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
Policymakers and advocates need to promote laws and regulations to protect youth, following the evidence of what’s proven to halt cycles of addiction.

— Susan Morrisey, STAT, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of halt

Verb

Those protections are part of a CISA provision that lapsed once, and Congress must soon decide if the provision should be extended.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026
The last remaining arms control agreement between Moscow and Washington, New START, lapsed in February, and for the first time since 1972, nothing limits Russia’s and the United States’ expansion of their offensive or defensive nuclear forces.

— Jeffrey Lewis, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of lapse

Verb

Monkeys, tigers, exotic birds destined for the pet trade or as trophies, reptiles and sea cucumbers prized for food and medicine all pass through the region's airports and border crossings, according to officials with the network.

— John Donegan LONG BEACH POST, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
In the game, Cal Raleigh hits his 54th HR, giving him a couple of records, most home runs as a catcher in a season with 43, passing Javy Lopez, and most homers by a switch-hitter, tying Mickey Mantle.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of pass

Browse Nearby Words

élan vital

elapse

elapsed

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“Elapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elapse. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of elapse

verb

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