Pronunciation: /læps/

Definitions of lapse

noun a temporary failure or slip

Example Sentences

A1 I forgot to renew my gym membership, so there was a lapse in my access to the gym.

A2 There was a lapse in communication between the two departments, causing confusion.

B1 The company experienced a lapse in productivity due to a software malfunction.

B2 The athlete's performance suffered a lapse in concentration during the final moments of the game.

C1 The government's failure to address the issue led to a lapse in public trust.

C2 The musician's career experienced a temporary lapse after the controversial incident.

verb to come to an end, as a period of time

Example Sentences

A1 I forgot to water the plants and now they are starting to wilt.

A2 She missed the deadline for submitting her assignment and now she is worried about her grade.

B1 The company's sales have been declining because they let their marketing efforts lapse.

B2 After years of practicing the piano, she let her skills lapse and now needs to start over.

C1 The government's failure to address the issue allowed tensions to escalate and the situation to lapse into chaos.

C2 The athlete's dedication never lapsed, even during the most challenging times in her career.

Examples of lapse in a Sentence

formal The lapse in judgment led to serious consequences for the company.

informal I had a lapse in memory and forgot to pick up the dry cleaning.

slang Don't have a lapse, remember to bring the snacks for the road trip.

figurative Time seemed to lapse as we sat by the peaceful lake, lost in thought.

Grammatical Forms of lapse

past tense

lapsed

plural

lapses

comparative

more lapsing

superlative

most lapsing

present tense

lapses

future tense

will lapse

perfect tense

has lapsed

continuous tense

is lapsing

singular

lapse

positive degree

lapse

infinitive

to lapse

gerund

lapsing

participle

lapsed

Origin and Evolution of lapse

First Known Use: 1400 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'lapse' originated from Latin 'lapsus' meaning a slip or fall.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'lapse' has evolved to also mean a temporary failure or decline in standards, as well as the passage of time or expiration of a deadline.