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Prepositions after verbs

Collide with, in, at, before or during?

Collide is usually followed by with when two things hit each other. Other prepositions may describe time, place, or context rather than a direct verb pattern.

Quick answer

Which preposition is used with collide?

The standard pattern is collide with someone or something. In, at, before, and during are usually separate time or place expressions, not alternatives selected by collide.

The truck collided with a barrier.
Two cyclists collided with each other at the corner.
The ships collided during the storm.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
collide with + object

Showing what was hit

Use collide with for physical impact between people, vehicles, or objects.

The car collided with a tree.
A drone collided with the building.
2
collide in + place/event

Giving the location or situation

In can introduce the place or event where the collision happened. It is not the direct complement of collide.

Two runners collided in the hallway.
The vehicles collided in heavy traffic.
3
collide at + point/location

Referring to a specific point

At identifies a precise location or moment connected to the collision.

The trains collided at the crossing.
The boats collided at low speed.
4
collide during + period

Describing the time of the collision

During introduces the event or period when the collision occurred.

The planes collided during a training exercise.
Several players collided during the match.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
collide with
The bus collided with a parked car.
Standard pattern for hitting something.
collide in
Two bikes collided in the tunnel.
In introduces the location, not the object hit.
collide at
The cars collided at the junction.
At marks a point or location connected to the accident.
collide before
The drivers stopped before the vehicles collided.
Before usually introduces a separate time clause, not a complement after collide.
collide during
The players collided during practice.
During gives the time or event in which the collision happened.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using in instead of with for the object hit

Use with to name the thing that was struck.

✕ The truck collided in a wall. ✓ The truck collided with a wall.

Treating before as a direct complement

Before normally introduces another action or time reference.

✕ The car collided before the bridge. ✓ The car collided with the bridge before sunrise.

Omitting with in mutual collisions

With is needed when two things hit each other.

✕ The two skaters collided each other. ✓ The two skaters collided with each other.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The motorcycle ___ a fence.
2. The athletes collided ___ the race.
3. Two taxis collided ___ the intersection.

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Frequently asked questions

Is collide with always required?

Use with when naming the thing or person hit. Other prepositions usually add information about place or time.

Can I say collide in a wall?

No. Say collide with a wall. In may describe the location, such as in the tunnel.

What is the difference between collide at and collide in?

At usually points to a specific spot, while in refers to a larger area or situation.

calculate, by, calculate, in, calculate, from "call for" or "call on"? "campaign for" or "campaign against"? cancel by, due, at, in or for? capitulate to, in, like, by or after? captivate by, for, with, from or in? "capture by" or "capture in"? "care about" or "care for"? carry with, by, in, to or into? carve into, out, in, on or with? cast in, into, for, by or on? "catch in", "catch by" or "catch on"?

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