elapse

American  

[ih-laps] / ɪˈlæps /

verb (used without object)

• elapses,
  present (3rd person singular)
• elapsed,
  past participle,  past
• elapsing
  present participle

1. (of time) to slip or pass by.

   Thirty minutes elapsed before the performance began.

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noun

1. the passage or termination of a period of time; lapse.

elapse British  

/ ɪˈlæps /

verb

1. (intr) (of time) to pass by

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unelapsed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• elapsing
  present
• elapsed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• elapse
  simple
• elapses
  simple
• have elapsed
  perfect
• has elapsed
  perfect
• am elapsing
  progressive
• are elapsing
  progressive
• is elapsing
  progressive
• have been elapsing
  perfect progressive
• has been elapsing
  perfect progressive

Past

• elapsed
  simple
• had elapsed
  perfect
• was elapsing
  progressive
• were elapsing
  progressive
• had been elapsing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will elapse
  simple
• will have elapsed
  perfect
• will be elapsing
  progressive
• will have been elapsing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of elapse

1635–45; < Latin ēlapsus (past participle of ēlābī to slip away), equivalent to e- e- ¹ + lab- slip + -sus for -tus past participle suffix

Explanation

When time passes by, you say it elapses. Four years elapse while you are in high school. Nine months elapse while you are in the womb. If two weeks have elapsed between your tennis lessons, there has been a two-week lapse between sessions. The word elapse comes from the Latin word elabi which means "to slip away." Time is one of those things that really does tend to slip away, unless you're sitting through a lecture on the nature of time. Then, it might feel like years elapse when really it is just a few minutes.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

elapse elapses elapsed elapsing

You may even die before those nearly two decades elapse, so you would have lost out on all that extra loot.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 11, 2026

But the repercussions will reverberate for some time: at least 12 months must elapse from the last case to regain the important fever-free status.

From Barron's ● Dec. 2, 2025

"It therefore seems likely that many years will elapse before any such Crispr-based therapy becomes routine - even assuming that it can be shown to be effective."

From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2024

They also face obstacles such as states’ statutes of limitations that may elapse before the patients sour on their transitions.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 5, 2023

Whoever spotted Asmodeus was to report, after letting one minute elapse, to Matthias, who was positioned roughly at the center of the line.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

“The more time elapses, however, the more crucial Pickaxe mountain appears to Iran’s reconstitution effort.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

Disciplinary complaints against a lawyer actually have no statute of limitations, although the more time that elapses, the more difficult it will be to prove/investigate.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 2, 2026

Sources have told BBC Sport that Bournemouth want him to play against the Gunners and then Tottenham on Wednesday 7 January before the release mechanism in his deal elapses on 10 January.

From BBC ● Dec. 30, 2025

I’m glad I didn’t, because it would have interfered with a phase that Tamariz considers part of the magical effect: the time that elapses after the trick is over.

From New York Times ● Jan. 2, 2023

This, together with the long period which usually elapses between the actual occurrence of infection and the discovery of the existence of infection, makes the difficulty of securing valid evidence peculiarly great.

From Food Poisoning by Edwin Oakes Jordan

A few seconds elapsed after the cars passed out of frame.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

And, given the time elapsed, the council confirmed they had no intention of looking into the matter.

From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2026

IHR said Mohammadi had 20 days to appeal under the law but warned there had in the past been cases of people being executed before this period elapsed.

From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026

By the time the agents shoved me into that unmarked SUV, three minutes and 30 seconds had elapsed.

From Slate ● Jan. 23, 2026

Had it simply been lost in the sixteen years that had elapsed since it had been written, or had it been taken by whoever had searched the room?

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

So we’re within a month now of the time elapsing on us.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025

The timeframe for issuing warrants can vary, with weeks and even months sometimes elapsing between the point at which the ICC prosecutor requests it, and judges grant it.

From BBC ● May 2, 2024

With years often elapsing between the incident and inquest, Alexander said inquests often open wounds and “re-traumatize” the families.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 15, 2023

Next year, though, that policy is elapsing, and at his age, Natiello's insurance premiums would spike if he decided to extend coverage.

From Reuters ● Jan. 31, 2023

All through the three days elapsing after the night of Billie’s death, Mrs. Dalken remained locked in her boudoir, her maid seeing that the smelling salts were handy whenever her lady called for them.

From Polly in New York by Lillian Elizabeth Roy

Related Words

• expire
• pass by
• transpire