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.
The most intense raw amounts look to be along the mountains of the north coast, where warm coastal water collides with steep terrain. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026 The high-stick caused Marchand to twist around and collide with the right post before his left leg bent back in an awkward way. — CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 Within these disks, small bodies called planetesimals collide and stick together to begin the process of forming planets. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2026 The crash occurred Sunday night outside Salinas when a black Nissan Altima, headed south on Abbott Street, collided with a white Honda CR-V that was traveling north, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 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
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