Meaning & use
elapse
To pass by, especially referring to a period of time.
See it in a sentence
Several months elapsed before she received a reply to her letter.
The contract expires once five years have elapsed since signing.
A note on using this word
Used specifically for time passing, not for physical objects or people passing by, and typically sounds formal.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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