collide

verb

col·​lide kə-ˈlīd How to pronounce collide (audio)
collided; colliding
Synonyms of collide

intransitive verb

1
: to come together with solid or direct impact
The car collided with a tree.
Two helicopters collided.
2
: clash
colliding cultures
Science and religion collided in the court.

Synonyms of collide

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Examples of collide in a Sentence

Two football players collided on the field. the candidate had a reputation as a maverick whose positions often collided with the party platform
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.
Outcomes and distribution are colliding in how agents get sold, too. — Harshil Shah, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Seigler slid headfirst into home and collided with Teel, who had dropped onto a knee slide of his own. — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 9 July 2026 Jáminton Campaz got the ball past Miro Muheim before the two collided, sending the Colombian crashing to the ground. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 7 July 2026 The entire 10 Petal Ranch anniversary party was the first time that all the characters and storylines collided on the show. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for collide

Word History

Etymology

Latin collidere, from com- + laedere to injure by striking

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of collide was in 1646

Rhymes for collide

See All Rhymes for collide

Browse Nearby Words

colliculate
collide
collider
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Collide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collide. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

collide

verb
col·​lide kə-ˈlīd How to pronounce collide (audio)
collided; colliding
1
: to come together with solid impact
the football players collided
2
: clash entry 1 sense 2a
their different outlooks collided

More from Merriam-Webster on collide

Nglish: Translation of collide for Spanish Speakers

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