elapse
To go by or pass, used when talking about time.
elapse in a sentence
- Three whole hours elapsed before the rescue boat finally appeared on the horizon.
- 'Let a whole hour elapse after eating before you swim,' warned the sign by the pool.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to elapse?
- Apass
- Bfreeze
- Chalt
- Dstop
Show the answer
A: pass. The other three mean the opposite of elapse.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to elapse?
- Ago
- Bstop
- Cpass
- Dslip
Show the answer
B: stop. The other three mean nearly the same as elapse.
Words that mean something similar
pass, go, slip
Words that mean the opposite
stop, freeze, halt
More words about time & change
- endure: To put up with something difficult for a long time.
- ensue: To happen straight after something else, often because of it.
- evolve: To change and develop slowly over time.
- fatal: Causing death, or leading to complete failure.
- fleeting: Lasting only a very short time.
- frequent: Happening often.
- imminent: About to happen very soon.
- inaugural: Marking the start of something important, or being the very first of its kind.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test