stage

American  

[steyj] / steɪdʒ /

noun

• stages
  plural

1. a single step or degree in a process; a particular phase, period, position, etc., in a process, development, or series.

2. a raised platform or floor, as for speakers, performers, etc.

3. Theater.

   1. the platform on which the actors perform in a theater.

   2. this platform with all the parts of the theater and all the apparatus back of the proscenium.

4. the stage, the theater, especially acting, as a profession.

   He plans to make the stage his career.

5. Movies. sound stage.

6. the scene of any action.

   Synonyms:

   locale, setting, spot

7. a stagecoach.

8. a place of rest on a journey; a regular stopping place of a stagecoach or the like, for the change of horses, mules, etc.

9. the distance between two places of rest on a journey; each of the portions of a journey.

10. a portion or period of a course of action, of life, etc..

    the adolescent stage of human development.

11. Entomology.

    1. any one of the major time periods in the development of an insect, as the embryonic, larval, pupal, and imaginal stages.

    2. Also called stadium.  any one of the periods of larval growth between molts.

12. Economics, Sociology. a major phase of the economic or sociological life of human beings or society.

    the patriarchal stage.

13. Geology. a division of stratified rocks corresponding to a single geologic age.

14. the small platform of a microscope on which the object to be examined is placed.

15. Radio. an element in a complex mechanism, as a tube and its accessory structures in a multiple amplifier.

16. Rocketry. a section of a rocket containing a rocket engine or cluster of rocket engines, usually separable from other such sections when its propellant is exhausted.

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verb (used with object)

• stages,
  present (3rd person singular)
• staged,
  past participle,  past
• staging
  present participle

1. to represent, produce, or exhibit on or as if on a stage.

   The drama class staged a play during Christmas vacation.

2. to furnish with a stage, staging, stage set, etc.

3. to write, direct, or produce (a play) with the action taking place as if in a specified locale or time.

   He staged the fantasy on Mars in the year 2500.

4. to plan, organize, or carry out (an activity), especially for dramatic or public effect.

   Workers staged a one-day strike.

5. to classify the natural progression of (a disease, especially cancer).

6. to prepare (a home) for sale in such a way as to appeal to potential buyers and generate a higher selling price.

   They were initially reluctant to hire someone to stage their apartment.

verb (used without object)

• stages,
  present (3rd person singular)
• staged,
  past participle,  past
• staging
  present participle

1. to be suitable for presentation or performance on the stage.

   The script didn't stage well.

2. to travel by stagecoach.

idioms

1. go on the stage, to become an actor, especially in the theater.

   She knew from the age of 12 that she would go on the stage.

2. by easy stages, working, traveling, etc., slowly, with frequent pauses; unhurriedly, with many stops; gradually.

3. on stage, performing, especially as an actor.

4. hold the stage,

   1. to continue to be produced, as a play or other theatrical production.

   2. to be the center of attention.

stage British  

/ steɪdʒ /

noun

1. a distinct step or period of development, growth, or progress

   a child at the toddling stage

2. a raised area or platform

3. the platform in a theatre where actors perform

4. the theatre as a profession

5. any scene regarded as a setting for an event or action

6. a portion of a journey or a stopping place after such a portion

7. short for stagecoach

8. a division of a bus route for which there is a fixed fare

9. one of the separate propulsion units of a rocket that can be jettisoned when it has burnt out See also multistage

10. any of the various distinct periods of growth or development in the life of an organism, esp an insect

    a larval stage

    pupal stage

11. the organism itself at such a period of growth

12. a small stratigraphical unit; a subdivision of a rock series or system

13. the platform on a microscope on which the specimen is mounted for examination

14. electronics a part of a complex circuit, esp one of a number of transistors with the associated elements required to amplify a signal in an amplifier

15. a university subject studied for one academic year

    Stage II French

16. not hurriedly

    he learned French by easy stages

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verb

1. (tr) to perform (a play), esp on a stage

   we are going to stage ``Hamlet''

2. (tr) to set the action of (a play) in a particular time or place

3. (tr) to plan, organize, and carry out (an event)

4. obsolete (intr) to travel by stagecoach

stage More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing stage

• at this stage
• set the scene (stage) for

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• stageability
  noun
• stageableness
  noun
• superstage
  noun
• understage
  noun
• restage
  verb (used with object)
• interstage
  adjective
• stageable
  adjective
• stageably
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• stages
  plural

Participles

• staging
  present
• staged
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• stage
  simple
• stages
  simple
• have staged
  perfect
• has staged
  perfect
• am staging
  progressive
• are staging
  progressive
• is staging
  progressive
• have been staging
  perfect progressive
• has been staging
  perfect progressive

Past

• staged
  simple
• had staged
  perfect
• was staging
  progressive
• were staging
  progressive
• had been staging
  perfect progressive

Future

• will stage
  simple
• will have staged
  perfect
• will be staging
  progressive
• will have been staging
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of stage

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (noun) from Old French estage ( French étage ), from Vulgar Latin staticum (unattested) “standing place,” equivalent to stat(us) status + -icum, neuter of -icus -ic

Explanation

A stage is a certain phase, like the toddler stage, when kids learn to walk and talk. Another kind of stage is a platform for a performance, although according to Shakespeare, “All the world's a stage.” There are stages of life, development, and grief — and stages of a rocket launch. Another kind of stage is the one that actors, singers, and puppet masters perform on. The profession of theater acting itself is in fact sometimes referred to as "the stage," and to put on a play is to stage it. A "stage whisper" is one between actors that's loud enough for the audience to hear, and a "stage name" is an actor's professional name.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stage stages staged staging

These costs in the earlier stage of production point to easing inflationary pressures.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

Aged 39, Messi's World Cup may have ended in disappointment - as Argentina lost to Spain in the final - but individually it was another month on football's biggest stage few will forget.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

PDT on Prime Video, the NBA announced Wednesday during another stage of the schedule release that will wrap up Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Under the new rules, that country will organise the concert "in its own right" and "will not be required to stage the event on behalf of another member".

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

He only remembered flashes—fluffy pink cotton candy that melted on his tongue, hundreds of lights flashing from the rides, music flowing from a nearby stage.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

Makhachev moved up in weight last year after a record-breaking fourth lightweight title defence and says he wants to compete more often as he enters the latter stages of his career.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

One of the study's major advances was the reconstruction of four stages in the early evolution of biological catalysis.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026

It’s a great honor to join the lineup for this festival and I’m delighted to share lots of special stages that I’ve prepared for you guys.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

The company is preparing to ship three more satellites, while BlueBird 17 through BlueBird 46 are in various stages of production and assembly.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

During the early stages of the investigation, the Paris police had written to Perugia, asking him to come in for an interview.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Lazy Bear gatherings have been staged every July since 1996 by the nonprofit Lazy Bear Fund to raise money toward LGBTQ+ community health.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Pyongyang calls them rehearsals for an invasion and has staged missile launches before and after them in the past.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

The semiconductor index added 6.6% Tuesday and has staged a 17% comeback from the recent selloff’s bottom last Wednesday, led by SK Hynix.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

Treasury Department, it staged a joint intervention in forex markets last week to strengthen the yen/dollar exchange rate.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026

Cousins and nephews and nieces prepared food and moved silently through the apartment in which the funeral was staged.

From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers

Martin has spoken about a Shakespearean influence on his writing, and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre was a fitting venue for the play’s debut, which felt grand in scope and staging.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

Microsoft is staging an artificial-intelligence comeback that could power the stock to new highs, some on Wall Street believe.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

Our critic raved that “There’s no such thing as a definitive staging of ‘Death of a Salesman,’ but this version ranks as the finest Broadway production of any classic play in many years.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

The military has also built dozens of bases, outposts and staging areas behind the barrier along the Yellow Line.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

She opened the door and flung herself into the staging area.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

Related Words

• do
• execute
• mount
• open
• orchestrate
• organize
• perform
• play
• present
• put on