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Glite Dictionary
to elapse

to elapse

19 5.1
Time passes without being noticed
  • verb
  • /ɪˈlæps/
translation icon : transcurrir
  • More than two years elapsed, however, before enactment of the Action Program in England.
  • elapsed time
  • years elapsed
  • months elapsed

Not until the term of the elected president shall elapse.

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Examples

  • And you wait in line: two weeks had elapsed between the accident and the funeral.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • 24 months have now elapsed since the tragic crash of the Zero X.

    Thunderbirds Are GO (1966)

  • At an authentic crime scene, it is realistic to expect some time to elapse before the victim is discovered.

    Academic text (2017)

  • As time elapses it goes forward in time.

  • Now, the trip to Earth could be done directly, with an elapsed time of just under four days.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Well, that much time and more has certainly elapsed.

    The Ladykillers (2004)

  • Twelve hours have elapsed until now.

    Dawn of the Dead (1978)

  • Given that approximately 8 months elapsed between administrations, these figures are certainly respectable.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Just when Curt was becoming concerned that too much time had elapsed, the communicator in his hand vibrated.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • As the meeting began, an hour had already elapsed since I arrived.

Synonyms

to pass
vsto elapse
761 1.0

To spend time doing something

emphasizes routine unnoticed movement of time rather than use
to go by
vsto elapse
268 1.0

For time to pass

is identical but stresses regular and unnoticed movement of time
to slip away
vsto elapse
32 3.0

For time to pass without anyone noticing

is more about steady unnoticed flow than gradual loss
to fly by
vsto elapse
23 3.3

To seem to pass very quickly, especially time

is about normal unnoticed movement rather than rapid speed
to slip by
vsto elapse
11 3.8

To go past quickly without anyone noticing, as with time or chances

is slower and more regular, not focused on speed
to slide by
vsto elapse
2 4.2

Time passes smoothly without you noticing

is broader, stressing usual unnoticed progression rather than smoothness
to lapse
vsto elapse
1 4.0

To pass, as time between events

focuses more on steady, regular unnoticed movement of time
to glide by
vsto elapse
1 3.9

Time that passes quickly without you noticing

is less about speed and more about ordinary unnoticed movement

Antonyms

to pause
346 1.0

Stop for a short time before continuing

How Quickly

to fly
333 1.8
to flash
  • Literature
102 3.0
to elapse
19 5.1
to pass
761 1.0
to creep
155 2.5

Surface Forms

elapse infinitive
elapsed past
elapsed past participle
elapsing present participle
elapses third person singular

Morphology

elapse = lapse (semi-transparent) = e + lapse

Formally related to 'lapse' (e- + lapse), but the prefix 'e-' is not a productive modern English prefix and the sense 'time passes' may not be transparently inferred by all learners.

Etymology

Elapse comes from old parts e- 'out' and labi 'to slip', giving the picture of time 'slipping out' of your hands. So, when time elapses it simply 'passes by' often without you noticing.