WordGarden.iostage
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /stˈeɪdʒ/
US
- /ˈsteɪdʒ/
Meanings
Noun
a distinct phase in a process, development, or sequence
a raised area where actors, musicians, or speakers perform before an audience
the extent or progression level of a disease, especially cancer
Verb
to organize or present something publicly, often for dramatic effect
Beyond the definition
A stage can be the physical platform where actors perform in a theater, but it also means much more than that. It can refer to a clear period or phase in a process, like "the early stages of development" for a new invention. Life, too, has different stages: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. You might even say someone is "center stage" when they are the focus of attention.
The word actually traces back to the Latin stare, meaning "to stand." Originally, it referred to a "standing place" or a raised platform where people stood to be seen. Today, whether you are building one for a play or talking about the "stages of grief," this word describes a specific place or a point in time where something unfolds. It is also commonly used to describe a step in a sequence: "We are currently at the planning stage of the project."
The word "stage" has a surprisingly versatile range of meanings, stemming from its root definition as a place for standing or performing. Most literally, a stage is the designated area in a theater where actors, musicians, or speakers perform—often complete with curtains, props, and lighting. To say "she took to the stage with confidence" implies she performed with poise on that platform.
However, "stage" frequently refers to a distinct period or phase in a process of development or change. We often talk about the "stages of life," marking the transition from infancy to adulthood. Similarly, a complex project might move through several stages, such as planning, execution, and completion. In a medical context, saying "the disease is at an advanced stage" indicates how far it has progressed.
Historically, "stage" also described a temporary stopping place on a journey—a meaning preserved in the word "stagecoach." These were specific distances traveled between stations where horses were changed and travelers rested.
The word can also be used as a verb, meaning to organize, produce, or present something for others to see. To "stage a protest" is to arrange it deliberately, while to "stage a play" is to put it on for an audience. To be "center stage" is to be the primary focus of public interest. Whether you are discussing theatrical performances, phases of human growth, historical travel, or the way an event is presented, the word "stage" represents the time, place, or manner in which the drama of life unfolds.
Examples
- 1
Music venue
The band walked onto the stage just after eight.
- 2
Performing
She still gets nervous before going on stage.
- Phraseon stage
performing in front of an audience
- 3
Theater work
He left his office job to work on the stage.
- 4
Project progress
The project is still at an early stage.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Interview process
We are now in the final stage of the interview process.
- 6
Gradual rollout
The new system will be introduced in stages over the next year.
- Phrasein stages
in several steps, not all at once
- 7
Public protest
Teachers staged a protest outside the town hall.
- Phrasestage a protest
organize and carry out a public protest
- 8
Fake crime
Police said the robbery had been staged.
- 9
Future cause
A series of small mistakes set the stage for a much bigger problem.
- Phraseset the stage for
make something likely to happen later
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- stagenounverb
Forms
- stagespluralnounverb
- stagedpast tenseverbnoun
- staging-ing formverbnoun