collide

verb

col·​lide kə-ˈlīd 

collided; colliding

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

• clash
• conflict

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

Rapid growth across parts of Northern Colorado is colliding with a growing challenge — being able to access enough electricity to support new homes and businesses. —Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 2 June 2026

Photons from tens, hundreds, thousands of years ago collide with my eyes. —Alexandra Oliva june 1, Literary Hub, 1 June 2026

Luxury hospitality and fast food are continuing to collide in increasingly unexpected ways, and this summer, Popeyes is heading straight into the heart of Hamptons culture. —Amber Love Bond, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

This is believed to be the result of a 34 solar mass black hole colliding and merging with a 32-solar-mass black hole around 1 billion light-years away. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for collide

• abide
• allied
• applied
• aside
• astride
• azide
• backside
• bankside
• bastide
• bayside
• bedside
• belied

Kids Definition

collide

verb

col·​lide kə-ˈlīd 

collided; colliding

1

: to come together with solid impact

the football players collided

2

: clash entry 1 sense 2a

their different outlooks collided