Lapse - definition, pronunciation, transcription

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Amer.  |læps|  American pronunciation of the word lapse
Brit.  |læps|  British pronunciation of the word lapse

noun

- a mistake resulting from inattention (syn: oversight)
- a break or intermission in the occurrence of something
a lapse of three weeks between letters
- a failure to maintain a higher state (syn: backsliding, relapse, reversion)

verb

- pass into a specified state or condition (syn: pass, sink)
- end, at least for a long time
The correspondence lapsed
- drop to a lower level, as in one's morals or standards (syn: backslide)
- go back to bad behavior (syn: fall back, regress, relapse, retrogress)
- let slip
He lapsed his membership
- pass by (syn: elapse, go along, go by, pass, slip away, slip by)
three years elapsed

Extra examples

He blamed the error on a minor mental lapse.

After a few polite words the conversation lapsed.

Her interest in politics lapsed while she was in medical school.

She didn't pay the premium and her life insurance policy lapsed.

He forgot to renew his driver's license, so it lapsed.

She allowed the magazine subscription to lapse.

I lapsed into a low chair.

Despite the occasional lapse, this was a fine performance by the young saxophonist.

A defensive lapse by Keown allowed Tottenham to score.

A single lapse of concentration cost Sampras the game.

After taking the drug, several patients suffered memory lapses (=when you cannot remember something for a short time).

He forgot to offer Darren a drink, but Marie did not appear to notice the lapse.

The usual time lapse between request and delivery is two days.

The conversation lapsed.

Your booking will automatically lapse unless you confirm it.

Word forms

verb
I/you/we/they: lapse
he/she/it: lapses
present participle: lapsing
past tense: lapsed
past participle: lapsed
noun
singular: lapse
plural: lapses
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