phasenoun [ C ]
uk/feɪz/us/feɪz/B2 any stage in a series of events or in a process of development:
The project is only in its initial phase as yet, but it's looking quite promising.
We're entering a new phase in international relations.
B2 a period of strange or difficult behaviour that will stop after a while, especially a period that a young child or person goes through:
When I was in my early teens I went through a phase of only ever wearing black.
The phases of the moon are the regular changes in its shape as it appears to us on earth.
More examples
- I'm sure he'll get over it, it's just a phase.
- She seems to be going through some sort of religious phase.
- An initial phase of research has produced some exciting results.
- We're now entering the final phase of the project.
- The business is going through a rather depressing phase at the moment.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Stages & phases
- beta
- early-stage
- early-term
- in phase/out of phase idiom
- landmark
- leg
- period
- point
- stage
- step
- stepping stone
- tertiary
- the home straight
- twilight
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Behaving, interacting and behaviour
Astronomy
Idiom(s)
in phase/out of phase
phaseverb [ T often passive ]
uk/feɪz/us/feɪz/to introduce something in stages over a particular period of time:
The reduction in armed forces will be phased over the next ten years.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Creating and producing
- bear fruit idiom
- bring
- bring sth out
- churn sth out
- cobble
- craft
- mass-produce
- on the go idiom
- overproduce
- patch
- patch sth together
- phase sth in
- pump
- raise
- rush
- turn sth out
- uncreative
- unleash
- unproductive
- wrought
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Phrasal verb(s)
phase sth in
phase sth out