phrasing

1 of 2

noun

phras·​ing ˈfrā-ziŋ 

1

: style of expression : phraseology

2

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

phrasing

2 of 2

present participle of phrase entry 2

Synonyms of phrasing

Noun

• voice
• formulation
• wording
• expression

Examples of phrasing in a Sentence

Noun

The phrasing of the instructions was confusing.

a singer known for her elegant phrasing

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Council members weren’t pleased with the ambiguous phrasing of the community benefit commitment, however. — Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026

Her phrasing gives away the fact that the original house is no more. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026

After the commercial break, Hernandez thought better of his phrasing. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026

The letters themselves carry their own aesthetic charge – dense with classical Chinese phrasing, compressed to the point of ambiguity, possessed of what Lan describes as a refined, antique beauty. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for phrasing

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

Kids Definition

phrasing

noun

phras·​ing

ˈfrā-ziŋ

1

: phraseology sense 1

2

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