as it disappears

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as it disappears" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an action or event that is happening simultaneously with something fading away or ceasing to exist. Example: "The sun set behind the mountains, casting a warm glow on the sky as it disappears beyond the horizon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

And Ares, because he doesn't yet understand what's going on, lifts his hand in response and waves to the Corolla as it disappears into its own cloud of desert dust.

The New Yorker

Other risk-reducing traits of fiddler crabs include females' highly cryptic colour pattern, the formation and use of a non-visual path map to the burrow they have just left, and orientation to the visual image of a courting male crab as it disappears into its burrow [21], [22].

Plosone

As it disappears you lose your sense of self.

The Guardian - Books

By that time, it will almost surely have more company as it disappears from the cityscape.

The New York Times

But the odor is no bouquet for humans, either, and as soon as it disappears, the rhesus monkeys return.

The New York Times

I felt as if at any moment I could drift away, a balloon you have to squint at to see as it disappears.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

For its part, the Sri Lankan government has arranged for the disappearance and murder of uncounted numbers of Tamils, just as it "disappeared" and murdered thousands of its own Sinhalese citizens during an earlier period of counterinsurgency.

The New Yorker

I waved goodbye and the bus bumped away, its taillights winking a farewell as it disappeared beyond the shoulder of the snow-capped Mount Muztagh.

BBC

Voice of America's reach in Russia has declined as it disappeared from the radio, says Dan Austin, who runs the service.

The Economist

"When they were yelling, I looked and saw it go as it disappeared over the horizon," Mr. Brown said.

The New York Times

"Wow, you wouldn't want to be hit by that," said someone as it disappeared into the sky.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as it disappears" to vividly describe simultaneous actions, enhancing imagery and flow in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "as it disappears" excessively in formal or technical writing where a more precise and less figurative expression might be preferred. For example, in scientific reports, consider using "as it degrades" or "as it diminishes" for increased clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as it disappears" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying a verb by indicating when something happens. Ludwig provides multiple examples of this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

28%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as it disappears" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adverbial clause, typically employed to describe the simultaneity of an action with something vanishing or fading. Ludwig confirms its usability across various contexts, particularly in news and media, and science. While generally neutral in register, it can be replaced with more precise alternatives in formal or technical writing. Remember to use this phrase to create vivid imagery and enhance the flow of your narrative, but avoid overuse in contexts demanding greater precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as it vanishes

Replaces "disappears" with a direct synonym, maintaining the same grammatical structure and meaning.

while it vanishes

Uses "while" instead of "as", changing the conjunction but keeping the core meaning.

as it fades away

"Fades away" is a softer, more gradual form of disappearing, suggesting a slow decline in visibility.

during its disappearance

Nominalizes "disappears", changing the grammatical structure slightly.

as it slips from sight

Suggests a subtle or stealthy disappearance.

as it is lost from view

More descriptive and emphasizes the loss of sight, rather than the object's action.

upon its vanishing

More formal and emphasizes the moment of disappearance.

as it recedes

"Recedes" implies movement away from the observer, causing it to become smaller and less visible.

when it becomes invisible

Focuses on the state of being invisible, rather than the act of disappearing.

as it is no longer visible

A more explicit and descriptive alternative, emphasizing the lack of visibility.

FAQs

How can I use "as it disappears" in a sentence?

The phrase "as it disappears" is used to describe an action happening at the same time something is vanishing. For example, "The sun cast long shadows "as it disappears" below the horizon".

What are some alternatives to "as it disappears"?

Alternatives include "as it vanishes", "as it fades away", or "as it recedes", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "as it disappeared" instead of "as it disappears"?

While "as it disappears" describes an ongoing or habitual action, "as it disappeared" refers to a completed action in the past. The choice depends on the timeline you are describing. For example, "The image became clearer "as it disappeared" from the screen" describes something that already happened.

What is the difference between "as it disappears" and "while it disappears"?

"As it disappears" emphasizes the simultaneity of two actions, whereas "while it disappears" emphasizes the duration of the disappearance. They are often interchangeable, but "as" can suggest a causal relationship that "while" does not.