phrasing

noun

phras·​ing ˈfrā-ziŋ 

1

: style of expression : phraseology

2

: the act, method, or result of grouping notes into musical phrases

Synonyms

• voice
• formulation
• wording
• expression

Examples of phrasing in a Sentence

The phrasing of the instructions was confusing.

a singer known for her elegant phrasing

Recent Examples on the Web

Mary Stallings When & where: 3 p.m. Aug. 9 at Montgomery Theater Stage The skinny: On the cusp of turning 86, San Francisco jazz great Mary Stallings continues to defy the calendar, swinging with absolute authority while interpreting standards with her inimitable phrasing. —Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2025

Does Annabelle have the same rights as a human child, hence the legal-guardian phrasing? —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2025

Many sound useful but are just familiar phrasing dressed up to feel original. —Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025

If the tongue-in-cheek approach—from the phrasing of the questions to Paltrow’s blithely chipper answers—seems to have a Ryan Reynolds tinge to it, that’s because the ads were created by Reynolds’ Maximum Effort production company. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 28 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for phrasing

• blazing
• brazing
• crazing
• gazing
• glazing
• grazing
• hazing
• lasing
• phasing
• praising
• raising
• razing

Kids Definition

phrasing

noun

phras·​ing

ˈfrā-ziŋ

1

: phraseology sense 1

2

: the act, method, or result of grouping notes into musical phrases