elapse

/ɪˈlæps/

//ɪˈlæps// verb

"elapse" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“elapse” is an uncommon English word, ranked #91,465 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#91,465
frequency rank, English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To pass or move by.

Key facts for elapse
PropertyValue
Headwordelapse
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪˈlæps/
Letters6
Frequency rank#91,465
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “elapse” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). elapse lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for elapse is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪˈlæps/. Corpus data places it at rank #91,465 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "To pass or move by.".

Zero misspellings are on record for elapse in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French elapser, from Latin elapsus. The correct English form is elapse, spelled E-L-A-P-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To pass or move by.

Etymology

From Middle French elapser, from Latin elapsus.

Synonyms

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "elapse"?
"elapse" is spelled E-L-A-P-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪˈlæps/.
What does "elapse" mean?
As a verb, "elapse" means: To pass or move by.
How do you pronounce "elapse"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "elapse" is /ɪˈlæps/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "elapse"?
From Middle French elapser, from Latin elapsus. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “elapse”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is E-L-A-P-S-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪˈlæps/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list