relapse
rih-LAPS
Relapse (verb) means to fall back into a former, usually worse, state after a period of improvement. Example: “He relapsed into old habits within weeks of quitting.”
verb
1
To fall back into a former, usually worse, state after a period of improvement.
"He relapsed into old habits within weeks of quitting."
"The patient relapsed just as doctors thought she was recovering."
noun
1
An occasion of falling back into illness, a bad habit, or a previous state.
"The addiction charity helps people cope with relapse."
How to use relapse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo slip back into a bad state (illness, addiction, old habits) after getting better.
Common pairings
suffer a relapse
relapse into old habits
risk of relapse
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Word forms
- Plural
- relapses
- Third person singular
- relapses
- Past tense
- relapsed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ into old habits within weeks of quitting.
Etymology
From Latin relabi, "to slide back," from re- ("back") plus labi ("to slip or slide").
Synonyms
View more →
lapse
regress
lapsing
relapsing
reversion
reverting
get worse
fall back
recidivate
retrogress
backsliding
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for relapse
See all rhymes for relapse →Frequently asked questions
What does “relapse” mean?
The word “relapse” means to fall back into a former, usually worse, state after a period of improvement. In plain terms, to slip back into a bad state (illness, addiction, old habits) after getting better.
How do you pronounce “relapse”?
“Relapse” is pronounced rih-LAPS (/ɹɪˈlæps/ in IPA).
How do you use “relapse” in a sentence?
Here is “relapse” used in a sentence: “He relapsed into old habits within weeks of quitting.”
What part of speech is “relapse”?
Depending on how it is used, “relapse” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “relapse” come from?
The word “relapse” comes from Latin. From Latin relabi, "to slide back," from re- ("back") plus labi ("to slip or slide").
Is “relapse” a common word?
“Relapse” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “relapse” have?
“Relapse” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to fall back into a former, usually worse, state after a period of improvement.
