lapse into

phrasal verb

lapsed into; lapsing into; lapses into
1
: to begin using or doing (something that should be avoided) for a short period of time
He's a good writer, but he occasionally lapses into jargon.
2
: to begin to be in (a worse or less active state or condition)
The crowd lapsed into silence.
The patient lapsed into a coma.
The society lapsed into decline.

Examples of lapse into in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This visibility transforms personal lapses into organizational crises. Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 Any claim for Swift’s genius should reckon with her lapses into imprecision and pompousness. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025 Oh no, now even the social media guys are lapsing into coachspeak. Sean Gregory, Time, 3 Sep. 2025 There were also quirks unique to AI—such as getting derailed by ASCII art or lapsing into philosophical rambling during long tasks. Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lapse into

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Cite this Entry

“Lapse into.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lapse%20into. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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