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Synonyms

elide

American  
[ih-lahyd] / ɪˈlaɪd /

verb (used with object)

elided, eliding
  1. to omit (a vowel, consonant, or syllable) in pronunciation.

  2. to suppress; omit; ignore; pass over.

  3. Law. to annul or quash.


elide British  
/ ɪˈlaɪd /

verb

  1. phonetics to undergo or cause to undergo elision

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • elidible adjective
  • unelided adjective

Etymology

Origin of elide

First recorded in 1530–50; from Latin ēlīdere “to strike out,” equivalent to ē- “out, out of; away” + -līdere, combining form of laedere “to wound”; see e- 1

Explanation

To elide something is to omit it or get rid of it. If your parents are especially strict, you might tell them about the A you got on your English essay and elide the fact that you failed your math quiz. If your school is putting on a production of "Grease" and the director cuts a major scene from the play, you can say she elides it. And when an elected official gives a speech, he's almost sure to elide certain topics that are too controversial or negative. Elide is also used in grammar to describe the way people speak when they leave out certain sounds. It comes from the Latin elidere, "strike out or force out."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing elide

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But this kind of ludicrous fantasy allows Hegseth to elide the deep paradox of his argument.

From Salon • Nov. 14, 2024

The problems with the analogy were evident from the lengths Ely went to to elide them.

From Slate • Jun. 25, 2023

They needed to preserve the essential meaning of each element of the show, but also elide some of the more arcane details, and they needed to echo the musicality of the language.

From New York Times • Sep. 14, 2022

“Doxology,” for instance, brushes up against a litany of major historical events, 9/11, the Trump election, only to skirt their impacts or at least elide them.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2022

In letters that were passionate and practical by turns, they did whatever they could to elide the miles between them.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield