lapse
verb/læps/
/læps/
Verb Forms
Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they lapse | /læps/ /læps/ |
| he / she / it lapses | /ˈlæpsɪz/ /ˈlæpsɪz/ |
| past simple lapsed | /læpst/ /læpst/ |
| past participle lapsed | /læpst/ /læpst/ |
| -ing form lapsing | /ˈlæpsɪŋ/ /ˈlæpsɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive] (of a contract, an agreement, etc.) to no longer be legally recognized because the period of time that it lasts has come to an end
- She had allowed her membership to lapse.
- The treaty lapsed in 1995.
- The booking will automatically lapse if the deposit is not paid within two weeks.
- [intransitive] to gradually become weaker or come to an end synonym expire
- His concentration lapsed after a few minutes.
- This custom had lapsed over the years.
- [intransitive] lapse (from something) to stop believing in or practising your religion
- He lapsed from Judaism when he was a student.
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin lapsus, from labi ‘to glide, slip, or fall’; the verb reinforced by Latin lapsare ‘to slip or stumble’.
Check pronunciation:
lapse