collide

American  

[kuh-lahyd] / kəˈlaɪd /

verb (used without object)

collided, colliding

1. to strike one another or one against the other with a forceful impact; come into violent contact; crash.

   The two cars collided with an ear-splitting crash.

   Synonyms:

   clash, smash, hit

2. to clash; conflict.

   Their views on the matter collided.

---

verb (used with object)

collided, colliding

1. to cause to collide.

   drivers colliding their cars in a demolition derby.

collide British  

/ kəˈlaɪd /

verb

1. to crash together with a violent impact

2. to conflict in attitude, opinion, or desire; clash; disagree

---

Etymology

Origin of collide

1615–25; < Latin collīdere to strike together, equivalent to col- col- ¹ + -līdere, combining form of laedere to strike

Example Sentences

"The atoms in our system can only collide along a single direction," explains Møller.

From Science Daily

Young star systems are chaotic environments where space rocks constantly collide.

From Science Daily

Analysts and automakers predict U.S. annual sales will fall in 2026 following three straight years of gains as belt-tightening American car buyers collide with tariff costs that companies probably won’t keep absorbing.

From The Wall Street Journal

The worlds of the two major soap operas will collide in "Corriedale", a one-off episode where Weatherfield locals come face-to-face with their Yorkshire equivalents when they are involved in a fatal collision on the M62.

From BBC

When two protons collide at very high energies, an enormous amount happens in an instant.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• bang
• break up
• bump
• crash
• hit
• shatter
• sideswipe
• smash
• strike