plural stages
1
a
: one of a series of positions or stations one above the other : step
b
: the height of the surface of a river above an arbitrary zero point
flood stage
2
a(1)
: a raised platform
(2)
: the part of a theater on which the acting takes place and which often includes the wings
(3)
: the acting profession : the theater as an occupation or activity
(4)
b
: a center of attention or scene of action
3
a
: a scaffold for workmen
b
: the small platform of a microscope on which an object is placed for examination
4
a
: a place of rest formerly provided for those traveling by stagecoach : station
b
: the distance between two stopping places on a road
c
5
a
: a period or step in a process, activity, or development: such as
(1)
: one of the distinguishable periods of growth and development of a plant or animal
the larval stage of an insect
(2)
: a period or phase in the course of a disease
also
: the degree of involvement or severity of a disease
b
: one passing through a (specified) stage
6
: an element or part of an electronic device (such as an amplifier)
7
: one of two or more sections of a rocket that have their own fuel and engine
staged; staging; stages
1
: to produce (something, such as a play) on a stage
2
: to produce or cause to happen for public view or public effect
stage a track meet
staged a fight
stage a hunger strike
3
: to arrange or decorate a house, condominium, etc. in order to enhance its appeal to prospective buyers or renters
Though it can be a bit pricey, having your home staged for sale is worth considering.—
Casey Bond
Casey Bond4
: to determine the phase or severity of (a disease) based on a classification of established symptomatic criteria
also
: to evaluate (a patient) to determine the phase, severity, or progression of a disease
: intended to represent a type or stereotype
a stage Irishman
a stage French accent
plural stages
1
: a usually unpaid internship in a professional kitchen that is part of a chef's training
The stereotypical stage—whether culinary school externship or a two-day effort—involves cleaning mushrooms by the bucketful or chopping onions until your eyeballs dissolve.—Jonathan Kauffman
Jonathan Kauffman2
: a person who holds such an internship : stagiaire
… a Michelin-starred restaurant will most likely have at least one stage in its kitchen on any given night, and many of America's best restaurants have an ever-changing roster of stages constantly passing through the kitchen doors.—Matt Tripp
Matt Tripp
staged; staging; stages
: to intern in a professional kitchen usually without pay as part of one's training to become a chef
I'd attended culinary school, staged at Jean Georges in New York City and worked the line at Gramercy Tavern.—Sophie Brickman
Sophie BrickmanExamples of stage in a Sentence
Noun (1)
an early stage of the disease
children at the same stage of development
The actors walked out onto the stage.
He was on stage for the entire show.
He has no intention of leaving the political stage.
The company wants to compete on the world stage.
Verb (1)
The school stages two plays each year.
The students staged a protest.
The school is staging a track meet.
The prisoners are staging a hunger strike.
The photograph of the two leaders shaking hands was deliberately staged.
His career as a singer appeared to be over, but then he staged a comeback.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
The alternative story of Helen’s Egyptian detour invites a more critical examination of the relationship between war and story by highlighting the degree to which humans have been conditioned by a narrative that presents war as the ultimate stage for personal and national glory.
—Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
The Bulls staged a 9-0 run to take a 24-12 lead on a 3-pointer by Buzelis before Monk provided a spark off the Sacramento bench.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Jeff Marks, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025
The design also allowed multiple drones to perform multi-stage tool-switching sequences while hovering in close proximity.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stage
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
And pretty much every company on the list, regardless of stage or size, is leaning heavily into AI.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
The alternative story of Helen’s Egyptian detour invites a more critical examination of the relationship between war and story by highlighting the degree to which humans have been conditioned by a narrative that presents war as the ultimate stage for personal and national glory.
—Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
But in the decades since, the iconic mission has become the source of several major conspiracy theories, primarily one claiming that the landing itself was a hoax entirely staged by NASA.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
The Bulls staged a 9-0 run to take a 24-12 lead on a 3-pointer by Buzelis before Monk provided a spark off the Sacramento bench.
—Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The upcoming spin is the first step in Honeywell’s multi-stage breakup plan.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025
The design also allowed multiple drones to perform multi-stage tool-switching sequences while hovering in close proximity.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stage
Cite this Entry
“Stage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stage. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stage
1 of 2 noun1
a
: one of the levels into which a structure can be divided
b
: a floor of a building
c
: a shelf or layer especially as one of a series
2
a
: a raised platform
b
: a part of a theater including the acting area
c
: the small platform of a microscope on which an object is placed for examination
3
a
: a center of attention : scene of action
b
: the theatrical profession or art
4
a
: a place of rest formerly provided for those traveling by stagecoach
b
: the distance between stopping places in a journey
c
: stage coach
traveling by stage
5
a
: a period or step in a process, activity, or development
an early stage of a disease
b
: one of the periods of the growth and development of a plant or animal
the larval stage of a beetle
also
: an individual in such a stage
6
: one of two or more sections of a rocket each having its own fuel and engine
a three-stage missile
stage
2 of 2 verb
staged; staging
: to produce or show publicly on or as if on the stage
stages two plays each year
stage a track meet
Medical Definition
stage
1 of 2 noun1
: a period or step in a process, activity, or development: as
a
: one of the distinguishable periods of growth and development of a plant or animal
the larval stage of an insect
b
: a period or phase in the course of a disease
the rash stage of Lyme disease—R. H. Boyle
R. H. Boyle
also
: the degree of involvement or severity of a disease
advanced stage II or III disease (more than 10 positive lymph nodes found after axillary dissection) —M. S. Anscher et al.
M. S. Anscher et al.
c
: one of two or more operations performed at different times but constituting a single procedure
a two-stage thoracoplasty
d
: any of the four degrees indicating depth of general anesthesia
2
: the small platform of a microscope on which an object is placed for examination
stage
2 of 2 transitive verb
staged; staging
: to determine the phase or severity of (a disease) based on a classification of established symptomatic criteria
also
: to evaluate (a patient) to determine the phase, severity, or progression of a disease
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