Relapse Meaning
/ɹɪˈlæps/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo fall back again; to slide or turn back into a former state or practice.
verbTo recur; to worsen, be aggravated (after a period of improvement).
Sentence Examples
Sami had a drug relapse.
Yanni had a relapse.
The patient suffered a sudden relapse after weeks of improvement.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The patient suffered a serious ____ due to stopping medication too early.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The patient suffered a ____ after stopping the medication too early against medical advice.
Word Origin & History
From Latin relapsus, past participle of relabi (“to slide back, fall back”), from re- (“back”) + labi (“to slip, slide, fall”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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."
— 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
"You slip your hold and change your side,
Relapsing from a necessary guide."
— 1700, [John] Dryden, “The Hind and the Panther”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
"Alas! from what high hope to what relapse / Unlooked for are we fallen!"
— 1671, John Milton, “The Second Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The patient suffered a serious ____ due to stopping medication too early.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The patient suffered a ____ after stopping the medication too early against medical advice.