Meaning & use
phase
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Meanings
nouncountable
One stage in a series of changes or in the development of something.
Grammar: Often followed by of: the first phase of the project.
Patterns
- a phase of something
- in the early phase
The first phase of construction ends in June.
He is going through a rebellious phase.
The outbreak is entering a new phase.
nouncountabletechnical
One of the changing shapes of the Moon or a planet as seen from Earth.
Grammar: Used with moon: phases of the moon.
Patterns
- the phases of the moon
Tonight the moon is in its final phase.
Astronomers recorded the phases of Venus.
The calendar shows each phase of the lunar cycle.
nouncountabletechnicalphysicschemistry
In chemistry and physics, a distinct form in which matter exists, such as solid, liquid or gas, or a point in a repeating cycle.
Grammar: Used in scientific writing: the liquid phase, in phase with.
Patterns
- in phase with something
- out of phase
Water changes phase when it freezes.
The two waves are in phase and add together.
The solution separates into an oil phase and a water phase.
verbtransitive
To carry out or introduce something gradually in planned stages.
Grammar: Often used with phrasal particles: phase in, phase out.
Patterns
- phase something in
- phase something out
The city will phase in the new parking rules over a year.
They plan to phase out coal power by 2035.
The company phased the work to avoid disruption.
Word forms
| plural | phases |
|---|---|
| third person singular | phases |
| past tense | phased |
| past participle | phased |
| -ing form | phasing |
Common combinations
- go through a phase
- Most toddlers go through a phase of saying no.
- final phase
- The project is in its final phase.
- phase out
- Schools will phase out the old textbooks.
- phase in
- The firm will phase in the new pay system.
- phase of the moon
- Farmers once planted by the phase of the moon.
Synonyms and how they differ
- stage
- Stage is the most common word and fits steps in any process, with no special sense of temporary change.
- period
- Period focuses on a length of time rather than a step in a sequence.
- step
- Step suggests a deliberate action in a process, whereas phase suggests a natural or planned stretch.
- chapter
- Chapter is figurative and suggests a part of a life story rather than a stage in a process.
Word family
- phased adjective
- done in stages
- phasing noun
- the planning of stages
- biphasic adjective
- having two phases, in science
- multiphase adjective
- having several phases
Commonly confused: phase or faze?
phase vs faze
Faze means to disturb or worry someone and sounds the same as phase, but is spelled differently.
Practice
Nothing the critics said seemed to ___ the young actor.
Choose one answer.
Faze means to disturb or unsettle. Phase is a homophone but means a stage, so it cannot be used here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “phase”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.