relapse
gb/ɹilˈæps/ us/ɹilˈæps/
B2
English
visszaesés, visszaesik, kiújulás, kiújul, visszasüllyed
NOUN
B2
1
visszaesés
B2
Usage pattern:
a relapse (into [substance/behavior]); a relapse after [time period]
After six months of sobriety, he had a relapse and started drinking again.
Hat hónap józanság után visszaesett, és újra inni kezdett.
Her therapist helped her make a plan to reduce the risk of relapse.
A terapeutája segített neki tervet készíteni, hogy csökkentse a visszaesés kockázatát.
The program focuses on relapse prevention and long-term support.
Learner examples
He had a relapse last week.
Múlt héten volt egy visszaesése.
She is afraid of relapse.
Fél a visszaeséstől.
Common mistake:
Avoid saying "a relapse back"; "relapse" already means returning.
Meaning
return to addiction after quitting
Collocations
have a relapse
|suffer a relapse
|a relapse into drinking
|a relapse into drug use
|relapse prevention
|risk of relapse
|relapse triggers
|a relapse episode
|relapse rates
|prevent relapse
Synonyms
backslide (Often suggests returning to a bad habit after progress.)
|
return to using (More explicit and informal; common in addiction contexts.)
Antonyms
recovery (Ongoing improvement and staying free of the addiction.)
|
sobriety (State of not using alcohol/drugs.)
Themes
health
|addiction
|mental_health
Definition
When someone starts an addiction again after stopping.
A return to using alcohol or drugs, or to another addictive behavior, after a period of stopping or improvement.
VERB
B2
2
visszaesik
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] relapses (into [substance/behavior]); [someone] relapses after [time period]
Many people relapse at least once before they stop for good.
Sokan legalább egyszer visszaesnek, mielőtt végleg abbahagynák.
He relapsed into drug use after losing his job.
Az állása elvesztése után visszaesett a drogozásba.
She worried she might relapse if she went back to the same group of friends.
Learner examples
He relapsed into drinking.
Visszaesett az ivásba.
She does not want to relapse.
Nem akar visszaesni.
Common mistake:
Use "relapse" (not "relapse back"). Use "relapse into" for the specific behavior: "relapse into drinking."
Meaning
start using again after quitting
Collocations
relapse into drinking
|relapse into drug use
|relapse into gambling
|relapse after treatment
|relapse after rehab
|relapse during recovery
|relapse quickly
|relapse again
|relapse under stress
|relapse following a trigger
Synonyms
backslide (More general; can sound moralizing or judgmental in some contexts.)
Antonyms
recover (To return to health or stable improvement rather than reverting.)
|
stay sober (Specifically not returning to alcohol/drug use.)
Themes
health
|addiction
|mental_health
Definition
To start an addiction again after stopping.
To start using alcohol or drugs again, or to restart an addictive behavior, after a period of stopping.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
kiújulás
C1
visszaesés
B2
Usage pattern:
a relapse of [disease]; a relapse in [symptoms]
The doctor warned that there is a chance of relapse after the course of antibiotics.
Az orvos figyelmeztetett, hogy az antibiotikumkúra után fennáll a betegség kiújulásának esélye.
After a year in remission, she experienced a relapse of her symptoms.
Egy év tünetmentesség után kiújultak a tünetei.
They adjusted the medication to reduce the risk of relapse.
Learner examples
He had a relapse after the treatment.
A kezelés után kiújult a betegsége.
Her illness went away, but it came back in a relapse.
A betegsége elmúlt, de aztán kiújult.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with "collapse" (suddenly fall down). A relapse is a return of symptoms.
Meaning
return of illness after improvement
Collocations
a relapse of cancer
|a relapse of depression
|a relapse in symptoms
|a relapse after treatment
|in remission and then relapse
|a sudden relapse
|a relapse occurs
|relapse risk
|relapse rates
|signs of relapse
Synonyms
return (General word; less precise than 'relapse' in medical contexts.)
|
recurrence (More formal/medical; emphasizes the disease coming back.)
Antonyms
remission (A period when symptoms are reduced or absent.)
|
recovery (Improvement rather than a return of illness.)
Themes
health
|medicine
Definition
When an illness comes back after getting better.
The return of a disease or its symptoms after a period of improvement.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
4
kiújul
C1
visszaesik
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] relapses; [symptoms/disease] relapse(s)
If you stop the medication too soon, the infection may relapse.
Ha túl korán abbahagyja a gyógyszert, a fertőzés kiújulhat.
He improved for a few days and then relapsed with a high fever.
Néhány napig jobban volt, aztán magas lázzal visszaesett.
Some patients relapse within the first year after treatment.
Learner examples
She got better but then relapsed.
Jobban lett, de aztán visszaesett.
The symptoms relapsed after a week.
Egy hét után a tünetek kiújultak.
Common mistake:
Use "relapse" for returning symptoms; use "get worse" for gradual worsening without a clear recovery period.
Meaning
become ill again after improvement
Collocations
relapse after surgery
|relapse after treatment
|relapse within weeks
|relapse with symptoms
|relapse badly
|relapse suddenly
|patients relapse
|symptoms relapse
|the disease relapsed
|relapse repeatedly
Synonyms
return (Less specific; does not clearly imply prior improvement.)
|
recur (More formal; often used for symptoms or conditions.)
Antonyms
recover (To improve rather than have symptoms return.)
|
go into remission (To enter a period with reduced/absent symptoms.)
Themes
health
|medicine
Definition
To get sick again after getting better.
To become ill again, or for symptoms to return, after a period of improvement.
VERB
C1
5
visszaesik
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] relapses (into [bad habit/state])
After a few productive weeks, he relapsed into procrastination.
Néhány eredményes hét után újra halogatni kezdett.
The country seemed to relapse into instability after the election.
A választások után az ország mintha újra instabilitásba süllyedt volna.
She promised herself she wouldn’t relapse into negative self-talk.
Learner examples
I relapsed into my old habits.
Visszaestem a régi szokásaimba.
He relapsed into procrastination.
Visszaesett a halogatásba.
Common mistake:
This sense is broader than addiction/health but still often uses "into" (e.g., "relapse into old habits").
Meaning
fall back into old bad habits
Collocations
relapse into old habits
|relapse into violence
|relapse into pessimism
|relapse into debt
|relapse into chaos
|relapse into silence
|relapse into a pattern
|relapse under pressure
|relapse after progress
|relapse again
Synonyms
slip back (More informal and less clinical.)
|
revert (More formal; focuses on returning to an earlier state.)
Antonyms
improve (To get better rather than return to a worse state.)
|
progress (Forward movement instead of going back.)
Themes
daily_life
|habits
|emotions
Definition
To go back to a bad habit after improving.
To return to an earlier, usually worse, behavior, situation, or standard after making progress.
Grammar
Dictionary form
relapse
IPA
GB/ɹilˈæps/
US/ɹilˈæps/
Syllables & stress
re - lapse (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lapse)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: relapse
- Plural: relapses
Verb
- Base: relapse
- 3rd Person Singular: relapses
- Present Participle: relapsing
- Past: relapsed
Expressions
have a relapse
1/hˈæv ə ɹilˈæps/
fixed phrase
experience a relapse
To get worse again after getting better.
Examples
- She had a relapse and needed to restart treatment.
- He had a relapse after three months of sobriety.
- If you have a relapse, contact your doctor right away.
Learner examples
- He had a relapse.
- She had a relapse last month.
relapse into [something]
1/ɹilˈæps ˈɪntu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
phrasal verb
return to a bad state
To go back to a bad habit or problem.
Examples
- He relapsed into drinking after a stressful week at work.
- Without support, she quickly relapsed into her old routine.
- The talks broke down, and the region relapsed into violence.
Learner examples
- He relapsed into smoking.
- I don’t want to relapse into old habits.
relapse prevention
1/ɹilˈæps pɹivˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase
strategies to avoid relapse
Plans and skills to stop relapse.
Examples
- The course teaches relapse prevention skills for high-risk situations.
- Relapse prevention often includes therapy, routines, and social support.
- They created a relapse prevention plan before leaving rehab.
Learner examples
- We made a relapse prevention plan.
relapse rate
1/ɹilˈæps ɹˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
technical
frequency of relapses in a group
How often relapse happens in a group.
Examples
- The new treatment reduced the relapse rate by nearly 20%.
- Researchers tracked relapse rates among patients for two years.
- Relapse rate was higher in the group that stopped medication early.
Learner examples
- The relapse rate is high.
suffer a relapse
1/sˈʌfɚ ə ɹilˈæps/
fixed phrase
formal
relapse (more formal phrasing)
To have a relapse (formal).
Examples
- He suffered a relapse and was admitted to the hospital.
- Several patients suffered relapses during the winter.
- The report notes that she suffered a relapse shortly after discharge.
Learner examples
- He suffered a relapse.