Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

relapse

/ɹɪˈlæps/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.32 in modern English

Syllables: re-lapse
IPA: /ɹɪˈlæps/

9

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To fall back again; to slide or turn back into a former state or practice.

Intransitive verb

verb

To recur; to worsen, be aggravated (after a period of improvement).

Intransitive verb

verb

To return to a vice, especially self-harm or alcoholism, failing to maintain abstinence.

Informal; Intransitive verb

verb

To slip or slide back physically; to turn back.

noun

The act or situation of relapsing.

noun

An occasion when a person becomes ill again after a period of improvement

noun

One who has relapsed, or fallen back into error; a backslider.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"He has improved recently but keeps relapsing into states of utter confusion."
"to relapse into a stupor, into vice, or into barbarism"
"to relapse into slumber after being disturbed"
"Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence, and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better."
"relapsed after 5 months of being clean"
"You slip your hold and change your side, Relapsing from a necessary guide."

Etymology

From Latin relapsus, past participle of relabi (“to slide back, fall back”), from re- (“back”) + labi (“to slip, slide, fall”).

Usage

Inflected Forms

relapses (present, singular) relapsing (participle, present) relapsed (participle, past) relapsed (past) relapses (plural)

Derived Forms

irrelapsable nonrelapsed nonrelapsing relapsable relapser unrelapsing nonrelapse prerelapse

Phrases

relapsing fever

Frequently Paired Words

remission

Synonyms

backsliding lapse lapsing relapsing reversion reverting recidivate regress retrogress fall back

Rhymes With

perhaps maps apps collapse caps gaps traps laps snaps wraps taps lapse

Questions

How do you pronounce relapse?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɹɪˈlæps/.
What does relapse mean?: To fall back again; to slide or turn back into a former state or practice.
Where does relapse come from?: From Latin relapsus, past participle of relabi (“to slide back, fall back”), from re- (“back”) + labi (“to slip, slide, fall”).

How to pronounce relapse

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