# collide

/kəˈɫaɪd/ (US) · /kəlˈaɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/collide
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to crash into

verb · CEFR B2

to hit something or someone by accident while moving.

For teachers: to strike one another or another object with a direct, often violent, impact while in motion.

- The two cyclists collided at the corner because neither was looking.
- The two ships collided in the dense fog, resulting in significant structural damage to both hulls despite their low speed.

Usage: Intransitive; typically takes the preposition 'with' when an object follows.

### 2. to conflict

verb · CEFR B2

when two different ideas, interests, or people disagree strongly.

For teachers: to come into strong conflict or opposition; to be fundamentally incompatible.

- Their opinions often collide during staff meetings, leading to long arguments.
- The senator's personal interests collided with his public duties, creating a significant ethical dilemma for the committee.

Usage: Often used to describe abstract concepts like cultures, interests, or personalities.

### 3. to meet by chance

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to meet or come together, sometimes in a surprising way.

For teachers: to meet or come into contact; used in a more abstract or elevated style to describe a convergence.

- In the busy city, thousands of different lives collide every single day.
- The novel explores a world where ancient traditions and modern technology collide in unexpected ways.

## Examples

- The two cars collide at the intersection.
- Astronomers predict that two distant galaxies will eventually collide, creating a massive new star system over millions of years.
- The drama in the play stems from the moment the protagonist's personal ambitions collide with his family's traditional expectations, forcing a choice between loyalty and self-interest.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.