stage

1 of 5

noun (1)

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
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
stageful noun
stagelike adjective

stage

2 of 5

verb (1)

staged; staging; stages

transitive verb

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
4
: 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
stageable adjective

stage

3 of 5

adjective

: intended to represent a type or stereotype
a stage Irishman
a stage French accent

stage

4 of 5

noun (2)

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
2
: 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

stage

5 of 5

verb (2)

staged; staging; stages

intransitive verb

: 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
Phrases
on the stage
: in or into the acting profession

Examples 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The setup made the most of the renowned Apollo stage, with a large cream couch on stage right and space for the night’s bands to play to the left. Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2024 As geopolitical tensions persist, Taiwan’s fashion industry will need to navigate its complex relationship with China while continuing to tell its story on the global stage. Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
Topline The Illinois Supreme Court overturned actor Jussie Smollett’s 2021 conviction for allegedly staging a hate crime attack against himself and reporting it to the police, multiple outlets reported Thursday. Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 The attorney for actor Jussie Smollett has spoken out after his 2021 convictions for allegedly staging a hate crime were overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court this week. Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
As 444 Capital is currently focused on deploying this first D’Amelio Family Fund to deserving mid-stage tech startups, particularly those founded by founders from underrepresented groups. Yola Robert, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023 The results met the main goal of a mid-stage clinical trial, with the potential for less frequent injections than a similar experimental treatment being developed by a competing drugmaker. Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 22 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for stage 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French estage abode, story of a building, state, from Vulgar Latin *staticum, from Latin stare to stand — more at stand

Noun (2)

borrowed from French, "period of practical experience constituting the concluding part of training for a profession," earlier "obligatory period of residence of a newly appointed canon before he could receive the prebend due him," borrowed from Medieval Latin stagium "abode, residence" (in stagium facere "to live in a place from which one receives a benefice"), latinization of Old French estage "abode" — more at stage entry 1

Verb (2)

derivative of stage entry 4

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1824, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1989, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1999, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stage was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near stage

Cite this Entry

“Stage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stage. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

stage

1 of 2 noun
1
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 noun
1
: 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 diseaseR. 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.
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

More from Merriam-Webster on stage

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