Pronunciation: /rɪˈlæps/

Definitions of relapse

noun a deterioration in someone's state of health after a temporary improvement

Example Sentences

A1 After his relapse, he went back to the hospital for treatment.

A2 She experienced a relapse in her recovery from addiction.

B1 The patient's relapse was a setback in their progress towards recovery.

B2 The relapse was unexpected and disappointing for everyone involved.

C1 The therapist worked with the client to identify triggers that could lead to a relapse.

C2 The relapse was a stark reminder of the challenges of maintaining sobriety in the long term.

verb to suffer a relapse

Example Sentences

A1 She relapsed into old habits after trying to quit smoking.

A2 After a year of sobriety, he relapsed and started drinking again.

B1 Despite his best efforts, he relapsed into depression during the winter months.

B2 The patient was doing well in recovery until he relapsed due to stress at work.

C1 After years of staying clean, he relapsed briefly but quickly got back on track with his sobriety.

C2 The athlete's injury caused him to relapse in his training regimen, but he was determined to bounce back stronger.

Examples of relapse in a Sentence

formal The patient experienced a relapse in their condition and had to be readmitted to the hospital.

informal After months of staying sober, he had a relapse and started drinking again.

slang She was doing so well with her diet until she had a relapse and ate a whole pizza.

figurative Just when it seemed like they were making progress, the team suffered a relapse in their performance.

Grammatical Forms of relapse

past tense

relapsed

plural

relapses

comparative

more relapsed

superlative

most relapsed

present tense

relapse

future tense

will relapse

perfect tense

have relapsed

continuous tense

is relapsing

singular

relapse

positive degree

relapse

infinitive

to relapse

gerund

relapsing

participle

relapsed

Origin and Evolution of relapse

First Known Use: 1400 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'relapse' originated from the Latin word 'relapsus', which is derived from the verb 'relabi' meaning 'to slip back'.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in the 15th century to describe a recurring illness or a worsening of a condition after apparent improvement, the word 'relapse' has evolved to also refer to a return to a previous undesirable behavior or state after a period of improvement or control.