collision course

noun

: a course (as of moving bodies or antithetical philosophies) that will result in collision or conflict if continued unaltered

Examples of collision course in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
This comes just days after air traffic controllers in San Diego cleared a Southwest flight to cross a runway another Southwest flight was using to take off, putting the planes on a potential collision course before controllers ordered both planes to stop. Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 18 Oct. 2024 Millions of Floridians have been ordered or urged to flee as Milton, described by many as a catastrophic life-threatening storm continues on its collision course with Florida. Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 9 Oct. 2024 While its exact track and strength could change, Helene will track north over the extremely warm waters into the Gulf of Mexico which will likely supercharge it on its collision course with the US Gulf Coast. Mary Gilbert, CNN, 23 Sep. 2024 Getting off a collision course on the nuclear file is both urgent and essential. Daniel Benaim, Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2020 See all Example Sentences for collision course 

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of collision course was in 1944

Dictionary Entries Near collision course

Cite this Entry

“Collision course.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collision%20course. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!