elapse
verb (used without object)
(of time) to slip or pass by.
have elapsed
-
present perfectof elapse.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
In theory, the two years that have elapsed since then should have made the defender bigger and stronger.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
Fifty years have elapsed since the original musical.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2023
Only minutes or hours have elapsed in the present when she returns home, sometimes after perilous weeks or months in the past.
From New York Times ● Dec. 12, 2022
To recap the premise: An airliner lands safely in New York after a rough flight, but the passengers’ relief vanishes when they realize five years have elapsed in a few hours.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 31, 2022
Only about thirty-five minutes have elapsed since it began.
From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow
