Skip to learning

YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

elapse

Verb

IPA /ɪˈlæps/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

To pass, when speaking about a period of time.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

elapse/ɪˈlæps/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Follow the idea
  1. The waiting begins

  2. Time passes

  3. The waiting ends

Time can elapse between one event and another.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

  1. Several minutes elapsed before the bus appeared.
  2. A week elapsed between the first draft and the review meeting.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Which word from this lesson matches this meaning?

To pass, when speaking about a period of time.
Show the answer

elapse — To pass, when speaking about a period of time.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “elapse” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

To pass, when speaking about a period of time.

Compare: Several minutes elapsed before the bus appeared.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

From Latin elabi, meaning to slip away.

Did you know?

Elapsed time is the amount of time that has passed between two points.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

  1. Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
  2. Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
  3. Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.

Share this word

Save the image or share a link to this word.

@englishskillstudio

elapse

/ɪˈlæps/ (Verb)

“Time elapses; you do not elapse time. Use a period such as hours or days as the subject.”

englishskillstudio.com