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Synonyms

phrasing

American  
[frey-zing] / ˈfreɪ zɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of forming phrases.

  2. a manner or method of forming phrases; phraseology.

  3. Music. the grouping of the notes of a musical line into distinct phrases.

phrasing British  
/ ˈfreɪzɪŋ /

noun

  1. the way in which something is expressed, esp in writing; wording

  2. music the division of a melodic line, part, etc, into musical phrases

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of phrasing

First recorded in 1605–15; phrase + -ing 1

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.

Ranji dismissed the “scary-sounding” phrasing, noting that wearable data isn’t clinically reliable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

When asked about the euro, the ECB chief will likely opt for phrasing along the lines of "we are... monitoring developments", Marco Wagner, an economist at Commerzbank, told AFP.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

“I’m a very progressive person who cares deeply about winning these elections, but my phrasing was not right. I will be more thoughtful! I really do promise,” Rogers wrote.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2026

Dr Kaye says goals should be written with flexible phrasing such as "I want to experiment with", "I want to create more space for" or "I'm learning what works for me when".

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

Clare pressed a paw into his one good eye, fighting to recall the exact phrasing Nine had used.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

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.