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Synonyms

center stage

American  
[sen-ter stayj] / ˈsɛn tər ˈsteɪdʒ /

noun

plural

center stages

  1. the central section of a stage.

  2. a prominent, important, or central position.

adverb

  1. in, into, or towards a prominent or central position.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Industry consolidation and the exodus of film production work overseas took center stage Tuesday at the CinemaCon trade convention in Las Vegas.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

This is the weekend high school track and field takes center stage in Southern California.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

The Manhattan hearing comes as Washington cautiously warms ties with Caracas, with the question of who will pay the legal fees of the former autocrat and his wife expected to take center stage.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Robust spending is driving up prices of services from haircuts to healthcare, a dynamic that is now taking center stage in the Federal Reserve’s fight against inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

A woman dressed all in black, wearing a headset and carrying a clipboard, comes to center stage behind the curtain.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.