Meaning & use
transition
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
A change from one situation, form or stage to another, often over a period of time.
Grammar: Countable with a: a smooth transition. Uncountable in general: times of transition.
Patterns
- transition from something to something
- a transition to something
The transition from school to work can be hard.
The country made a peaceful transition to democracy.
She is in transition between jobs.
verbintransitive
To move from one state, activity or system to another.
Grammar: No object; often followed by to or from: transition to remote work.
Patterns
- transition to something
- transition from something to something
Many students transition to college life with ease.
The company transitioned to solar power last year.
He is transitioning from a military career to teaching.
nouncountable
A word, phrase or effect that links one idea, scene or part to the next.
Grammar: Countable: use a transition between paragraphs.
Patterns
- a transition between things
Use a clear transition between paragraphs.
The film has a clever transition from the dream to the kitchen.
Words like however are useful transitions.
Word forms
| plural | transitions |
|---|---|
| third person singular | transitions |
| past tense | transitioned |
| past participle | transitioned |
| -ing form | transitioning |
Common combinations
- smooth transition
- Staff worked to ensure a smooth transition.
- transition period
- A transition period of six months was agreed.
- make the transition
- It takes time to make the transition.
- in transition
- The industry is in transition.
- transition to
- The school will transition to digital textbooks.
Synonyms and how they differ
- change
- A general word that does not suggest a gradual process.
- shift
- Suggests a smaller or quicker change than transition.
- changeover
- A change from one system to another, more practical in tone.
- evolution
- Means slow development over a long period, not a managed change.
Opposites
Word family
- transitional adjective
- relating to a change between stages
- transitory adjective
- lasting only a short time
- transitive adjective
- describing a verb that takes an object
Commonly confused: transition or transaction?
transition vs transaction
A transaction is a business exchange, not a change of state.
Practice
Which sentence uses transition correctly?
Choose one answer.
Transition names a change between stages, as here. The other sentences use it with things that have no stages.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “transition”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.