ellipsis

[ih-lip-sis] / ɪˈlɪp sɪs /

NOUN

figure of speech

Synonyms

WEAK

adumbration allegory alliteration allusion analogue analogy anaphora anticlimax antistrophe antithesis aposiopesis apostrophe asyndeton bathos comparison conceit device echoism euphemism euphuism exaggeration expression flourish flower hyperbole image imagery irony litotes malapropism manner of speaking metaphor metonymy onomatopoeia ornament oxymoron parable paradox parallel personification proteron rhetoric sarcasm satire simile stylistic device synecdoche trope tropology turn of phrase understatement way of speaking

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Though the title jams everybody together in one breathless, unpunctuated rush, this is very much a movie about distance within families; an ellipsis between each word might have been apt.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

He inserted this ellipsis, so the sentence meant the literal opposite of what it had actually said.

From Salon • May 16, 2025

Akil laughs when I bring it up: “At any age, that ellipsis will kick your butt.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2025

This ellipsis is a casual piece of grammar.

From Washington Post • Oct. 1, 2022

Olly: does the ellipsis mean we're having an awkward silence or that you're thinking?

From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon

Vocabulary lists containing ellipsis

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

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Punctuation Matters

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ASVAB Word Knowledge

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