Standard Lemma guide

obsolesce

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɒbsəˈlɛs/
  • General-American: /ɑbsəˈlɛs/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛs

1

verb

Meaning 1

To become obsolete.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

become obsolete, fall into disuse

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • This word has not obsolesced, although it is rarely used

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change

History

Etymology

From Latin obsolescere (“to wear out, fall into disuse, grow old, decay”), from obs- + olesco (“to grow”). Compare adolescent.