collide

/kəˈlaɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /kəˈlaɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /kə-ˈlīd/ (ame, mw)

collide — verb

  • collidepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • collideshe / she / it
  • collidedpast simple
  • colliding-ing form

1. to crash hard into another moving thing, or for two moving things to slam togeth

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to crash hard into another moving thing, or for two moving things to slam together by accident — for example, when two cars meet head-on at a crossroads.

例句

A delivery truck collided with a school bus on the icy road near Hugo's farm.

collide with [vehicle]

Two cyclists collided at the bottom of the hill and both fell off their bikes.

two subjects + collide (mutual crash)

同義詞
  • crash

    more common in everyday speech; often used for vehicles

  • smash into

    informal, emphasises force and damage

  • ram

    suggests deliberate or very forceful impact

反義詞
  • miss

    to pass without touching

  • avoid

    to stay away from and not hit

文法句型

collide with [object]

two things + collide

用法筆記

Subject is usually a moving vehicle, person, or solid object. The 'with' phrase names the other thing being hit; without 'with', the subject is plural and both things crash together.

常見錯誤

❌The car collided the tree.
✅The car collided with the tree.
💡needs 'with' before the thing being hit.
❌A bicycle collided.' (singular subject, no 'with')
✅A bicycle collided with a parked car.
💡singular subject needs 'with' + object.

2. (of ideas, opinions, or interests) to be so different that they cannot fit toget

2.動詞不及物C1
釋義

(of ideas, opinions, or interests) to be so different that they cannot fit together, leading to open disagreement — for example, when a manager's plans clash with what the workers want.

例句

The mayor's housing plans collided with the wishes of long-time residents at the town meeting.

[plans] + collide with [wishes]

Eri and her older brother often collide over how to look after their ageing mother.

two people + collide over [topic]

同義詞
  • clash

    the most common everyday word for this sense

  • conflict

    more formal; often used in writing about ideas or interests

  • be at odds

    phrase form; emphasises an ongoing state of disagreement

反義詞
  • align

    to fit together or agree

  • harmonise

    more formal; to work together smoothly

文法句型

[idea/interest] + collide with [idea/interest]

two views + collide

用法筆記

Subject is usually abstract: ideas, opinions, interests, cultures, or plans. Distinguish from sense 1 by checking whether the subject can physically move — if it can't, this is the metaphorical sense.

常見錯誤

❌My friend and I collided about politics yesterday.' (sense suggests one short clash, not lasting disagreement)
✅My friend and I argued about politics yesterday.
💡for a single spoken argument, 'argue' is more natural; 'collide' suits ongoing conflict between positions.