elapse
C1formal, written
Definition
Meaning
to pass or go by (said of time)
To slip away or be completed, especially referring to a period or interval.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A formal, stative verb typically used impersonally. The subject is almost always a period of time (e.g., years, months, weeks, hours). Rarely used with personal subjects.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties use it with the same formal register.
Connotations
Slightly literary or bureaucratic; used in official/legal contexts (e.g., 'after the stipulated period has elapsed').
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, primarily found in written contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Time period] + elapseelapse + [adverbial of time]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “before another minute elapses”
- “with the elapsing of time”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in contracts and reports: 'Payment must be made before 30 days elapse.'
Academic
Used in historical or scientific writing: 'Several centuries elapsed before the theory was proven.'
Everyday
Rare in casual speech; more common in writing: 'A lot of time has elapsed since we last met.'
Technical
Used in legal, medical, or procedural contexts: 'The cooling-off period must elapse before the sale is final.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Several decades elapsed before the truth was revealed.
- A statutory period must elapse before you can reapply.
- Only a few minutes had elapsed when the alarm sounded.
American English
- A full year elapsed before construction started.
- The deadline for appeals elapsed at midnight.
- Weeks elapsed without any progress.
adverb
British English
- Time elapsed slowly in the waiting room.
- The years elapsed uneventfully.
American English
- The summer elapsed quickly.
- The contractual period elapsed without incident.
adjective
British English
- The elapsed time was recorded as 4 hours 23 minutes.
- We reviewed the elapsed periods for all contracts.
American English
- Check the elapsed time on the stopwatch.
- The report analyzed elapsed project timelines.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Many years elapsed before they met again.
- A week elapsed without any news.
- The required cooling-off period has now elapsed, so we can proceed.
- Only a few seconds elapsed between the flash and the sound.
- Centuries had elapsed since the city was last inhabited.
- Once the statutory limitation period elapses, no prosecution can be brought.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a **lapse** in time. E-LAPSE: time **escapes** or **lapses** away.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A MOVING OBJECT / TIME IS A RESOURCE THAT IS USED UP.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'to lapse' (совершать ошибку, впадать в состояние).
- Прямой перевод 'протекать' (как жидкость) неверен.
Common Mistakes
- Using with a personal subject (e.g., 'I elapsed' is wrong).
- Confusing with 'lapse' as a noun (a temporary failure).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most common and correct subject for the verb 'elapse'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is almost exclusively used with periods of time as the subject (e.g., years, minutes).
'Elapse' refers specifically to the passing of time. 'Lapse' as a verb can mean to fall into a state, to cease to be valid, or to make a mistake. As a noun, it means a temporary failure or a passing of time.
No, it is relatively formal and is more common in written English, particularly in legal, academic, or bureaucratic contexts.
Yes, often in technical contexts like 'elapsed time' meaning the amount of time that has passed.