Phase
/feɪz/
Definitions
2 meaningsA stage or period in a process or development.
/feɪz/
A distinct period or stage in a process or course of development.
The project is entering a new phase.
💡 Simply: Imagine a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Each stage of that transformation – the egg, the caterpillar, the chrysalis – is a phase. It's just a part of a bigger process!
👶 For kids: A part of something that's happening, like when the moon looks different at different times.
More Examples
He's going through a challenging phase in his life.
The company is in the expansion phase.
How It's Used
"The moon goes through different phases."
"The project is in its final phase of development."
"She's going through a rebellious phase."
To introduce or implement something in stages.
/feɪz/
To schedule or introduce in stages.
The company is phasing out single-use plastics.
💡 Simply: Like when you slowly introduce a new food to a baby's diet, or when you gradually start using a new app. You're phasing it in or out.
👶 For kids: To do something bit by bit, not all at once.
More Examples
We will phase in the new system over the next quarter.
The project will be phased according to the budget.
How It's Used
"The new software will be phased in over the next month."
"They decided to phase out the old product line."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
honeymoon phase
A short period of time after something new or exciting begins, when everything seems good.
"The new relationship was still in the honeymoon phase, but cracks were starting to show."
From Greek *phasis* (appearance), referring to the changing visible shapes of celestial bodies like the moon. It later developed to describe stages in processes.
The word 'phase' has been used since the early 17th century, initially referring to celestial phases, and gradually broadened to include stages in any process.