-
Trending Now:
More Trending:
- scaramouch non sequitur admiral's mast calumny kakistocracy
- ALL
Definition of phrase
1 : a characteristic manner or style of expression : diction
2a : a brief expression; especially : catchphraseb : word
3 : a short musical thought typically two to four measures long closing with a cadence
4 : a word or group of words forming a syntactic constituent with a single grammatical function an adverbial phrase
5 : a series of dance movements comprising a section of a pattern
People Are Reading
Examples of phrase in a Sentence
Answer the questions in complete sentences, not phrases.
She used the phrase “I strongly believe” too many times in her speech.
Underline the key words or phrases in the paragraph.
To borrow a phrase from my mother, I spend too much time “watching the boob tube” and not enough time outside.
Recent Examples of phrase from the Web
-
The next day, Amber reveals that another woman has come forward to accuse Matt of making sexual advances (this is an important phrase, remember it for later on).
-
Slowly but surely -- a phrase that has come to define Jones’ racing style this season.
-
Slowly but surely — a phrase that has come to define Jones’ racing style this season.
-
AROUND THE BASES: This week in MLB CHAT: Tom Haudricourt, noon Tuesday To use a phrase often repeated by Counsell, the Brewers seem to enjoy each other’s company.
-
But the other buzz phrase for new TV sets, HDR, turned out to be a lot less prevalent.
-
In a blog post published Thursday, Facebook described how an artificial-intelligence system would, over time, teach itself to identify key phrases that were previously flagged for being used to bolster a known terrorist group.
-
The cases Pitzer found are not blatant or explicit — there are no verbatim sentences, only identical phrases and similar phrasing.
-
The phrase itself hasn’t been heard much since Ronald Reagan vanquished the Democrats in 1984.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'phrase'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of phrase
Latin phrasis, from Greek, from phrazein to point out, explain, tell
phrase
Definition of phrase
phrased
;phrasing
transitive verb
1a : to express in words or in appropriate or telling termsb : to designate by a descriptive word or phrase
2 : to divide into melodic phrases
Examples of phrase in a Sentence
He phrased his version of the story in a way that made him look good.
The question was awkwardly phrased.
The singer phrased the music beautifully.
Recent Examples of phrase from the Web
-
A better way to phrase this would be, what are the menu of options being considered?
-
Please tell me the answer is obvious when it’s phrased this way.
-
The extended piano solo that ends Schumann's cycle -- repeating the music from the beginning, as if to say this woman's life might have another chapter -- was phrased by Martineau with particular incisiveness.
-
Still, interacting with bots isn’t perfect, and the way a sentence is phrased can confuse the computer programs, which mimic human conversation.
-
But every Pettibon phrasing sounds like a quotation from someone else, often in the formal, slightly stilted tones of a Victorian wordsmith.
-
So, not friendly questions, even if they were politely phrased.
-
Few American jurists are as revered as Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. A United States Supreme Court justice for close to 30 years, Holmes wrote seminal opinions that were clear and clever and elegantly phrased.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'phrase'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of phrase
1556
PHRASE Defined for English Language Learners
phrase
playDefinition of phrase for English Language Learners
-
: a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence
-
: a brief expression that is commonly used
-
music : a short section of a longer piece of music
phrase
Definition of phrase for English Language Learners
-
: to say (something) in a particular way
-
: to perform (a piece of music) with the notes grouped together in a particular way
PHRASE Defined for Kids
Definition of phrase for Students
1 : a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not form a complete sentence The group of words “out the door” in “they ran out the door” is a phrase.
2 : a brief expression that is commonly used
Definition of phrase for Students
phrased
;phrasing
: to express in words The boy was unable to phrase his idea.
Learn More about phrase
-
See words that rhyme with phrase Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for phrase Spanish Central: Translation of phrase Nglish: Translation of phrase for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of phrase for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up phrase? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!