Word
collide
Phoneticscol·lide, stress on the second syllable
US/kəˈɫaɪd/
UK/kəlˈaɪd/
Definitions
01to crash into
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to hit something or someone by accident while moving.
v. 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.
Pitfall
The car collided against a tree.
The car collided with a tree.
Use the preposition 'with' after collide to indicate what was hit.
02to conflict
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. when two different ideas, interests, or people disagree strongly.
v. 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.
03to meet by chance
C1 · Advanced Literary
v. to meet or come together, sometimes in a surprising way.
v. 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.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“A Volkswagen Passat was travelling the wrong way down the A66 near Middlesbrough and collided with a police vehicle on the same road going in the right direction, Cleveland Police said.” “About 12 billion years ago, a dwarf galaxy known as LKH collided with a young Milky Way and merged with it.” Etymology
From Latin collidere (“to strike or clash together”), from com- (“together”) + laedere (“to strike, dash against, hurt”); see lesion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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