elapsed

Elapsed is an adjective and past participle meaning that time or a period has passed. It is commonly used to describe the amount of time that has elapsed since a starting point, as in elapsed time, or to indicate that a deadline or window has slipped by. In everyday language, phrases such as “elapsed minutes” or “elapsed hours” refer to the duration that has occurred since a reference moment.

Etymology and usage: Elapsed derives from Latin elabi, meaning to slip away, and has been part of English since the medieval period. The related verb elapse denotes the action of time passing, with elapsed as the past participle. The term is often contrasted with remaining or remaining time in scheduling and timing contexts.

In computing and measurement, elapsed time is a core concept for understanding duration. It is typically calculated as the difference between an end timestamp and a start timestamp, using a clock with suitable precision. High-resolution timers are common in programming to measure short durations, while longer durations may be tracked with standard clocks. The notion also appears in experiments, performance testing, sports timing, and project management, where reporting the elapsed time helps assess efficiency, progress, or adherence to schedules.

See also: duration, time interval, elapse, timekeeping.