transition

noun

Save Word

tran·si·tion | \ tran(t)-ˈsi-shən

, tran-ˈzi-, chiefly British tran(t)-ˈsi-zhən \

Definition of transition

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another : change

b : a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another

2a : a musical modulation

b : a musical passage leading from one section of a piece to another

3 : an abrupt change in energy state or level (as of an atomic nucleus or a molecule) usually accompanied by loss or gain of a single quantum of energy

transition

verb

transitioned; transitioning; transitions

Definition of transition (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to make a transition transition into college

Examples of transition in a Sentence

Noun We want to have a smooth transition when the new owners take control of the company. the sometimes difficult transition from childhood to adulthood The country made a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy. Verb The company has transitioned to new management in the past year. a student who is transitioning to a new school

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Short term, Drummond is now the main offensive focal point without LeBron James and Anthony Davis and the key in easing the transition whenever those two stars return (timing TBD). — Matt Eppers, USA TODAY, "NBA Roundtable: How NBA's March Madness is having an impact on title contenders," 31 Mar. 2021 The network formerly known as SportsTime Ohio made the transition Wednesday, introducing new graphics, music and studio sets. — cleveland, "SportsTime Ohio is now Bally Sports Great Lakes: What it means and how to stream Cleveland Indians games in 2021," 31 Mar. 2021 For exhausted parents, school reopenings bring both relief and yet another challenge: how to make the transition to in-person learning a positive one. — Brian Platzer, The Atlantic, "Homeroom: Returning to the Classroom Might Not Be Easy," 30 Mar. 2021 On the election security side, the bill would result in the statewide transition toward universal paper ballots to guarantee a paper audit trail. — CBS News, "Kentucky lawmakers send bipartisan election bill to governor," 30 Mar. 2021 As that day approaches, Dieng does not think the transition to the Spurs’ Way will take him long to master. — Jeff Mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, "Gorgui Dieng hopes to boost Spurs' playoff hopes," 29 Mar. 2021 Reese, Jones and Petty were recruited by former coach Avery Johnson but stuck with Oats through the coaching transition and raised the bar for future senior classes. — Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, "Nate Oats: 2020-21 team ‘changed entire narrative’ of Alabama basketball," 29 Mar. 2021 If last year’s arrivals signal the transition to long-term solutions arriving at Camden Yards, though, then the Orioles will be expecting big things from prospects such as outfielder Yusniel Diaz and right-hander Mike Baumann this summer. — Jon Meoli, baltimoresun.com, "Is the Orioles’ rebuild on track? From prospects to player development to scouting, here’s where things stand.," 29 Mar. 2021 But a key one was probably the ongoing transition to a new Biden administration, said David Reichenberg, an antitrust attorney with Cozen O’Connor in New York. — Mike Freeman, San Diego Union-Tribune, "End of the line: FTC won’t appeal Qualcomm antitrust case to Supreme Court," 29 Mar. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The Who were one of a handful of Sixties bands to seamlessly transition into the Seventies. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, "Flashback: The Who Perform ‘Another Tricky Day’ on German TV in 1981," 30 Mar. 2021 Officials from metro-area counties are calling the hurried attempt to transition thousands of homeless people into hotel rooms last spring an overwhelming success, though the effort hasn't been without bumps in the road. — Erin Adler, Star Tribune, "Counties say sheltering homeless people in hotels was a success — with challenges," 18 Mar. 2021 Fortunately, working from home for the better part of the year has allowed most to transition into this workflow and learn how to use collaboration software and business tools that allow for the best possible productivity. — Allbusiness, Forbes, "4 Basic Business Tools New Entrepreneurs Need To Succeed," 17 Mar. 2021 During a briefing Tuesday, Marcelo Queiroga, a cardiologist who will transition into the role of health minister in the coming days, reiterated his loyalty to Bolsonaro. — Washington Post, "Brazil’s rolling coronavirus disaster is a threat to the world," 17 Mar. 2021 The past year has been an era of universal re-imagination, and Americans are now planning to transition into a post-pandemic world. — Avriel Epps-darling, The Atlantic, "Virtual Learning Might Be the Best Thing to Happen to Schools," 17 Mar. 2021 Its ambition was to transition a high-carbon economy into a low-carbon one while maintaining living standards, raising quality of life, and improving the natural environment. — Mariana Mazzucato, The New Republic, "Saving the Climate in a Triple Crisis," 15 Mar. 2021 People experiencing homelessness who could transition into congregate settings also will be eligible for shots. — Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, "San Francisco to open vaccinations to high-risk adults, plus homeless and incarcerated people," 12 Mar. 2021 District 112, which operates its Highland Park schools under a hybrid model, plans to transition to full in-person or full remote learning beginning April 6. — Atavia Gibson, chicagotribune.com, "With new state guidelines in place, Highland Park and Deerfield school districts expand in-person learning," 16 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'transition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about transition

Dictionary Entries near transition

transitional epithelium

Statistics for transition

Last Updated

2 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Transition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transition. Accessed 5 Apr. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for transition

transition

noun

English Language Learners Definition of transition

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a change from one state or condition to another

transition

verb

English Language Learners Definition of transition (Entry 2 of 2)

chiefly US : to make a change from one state, place, or condition to another : to make a transition

See the full definition for transition in the English Language Learners Dictionary

transition

noun

tran·si·tion | \ tran-ˈsi-shən

, -ˈzi- \

Kids Definition of transition

: an act or the process of passing from one state, stage, place, or subject to another : change

transition

noun

tran·si·tion | \ tran(t)s-ˈish-ən, tranz-, chiefly British tran(t)s-ˈizh- \

Medical Definition of transition

1 : passage from one state or stage to another especially : an abrupt change in energy state or level (as of an atomic nucleus or a molecule) usually accompanied by loss or gain of a single quantum of energy

2 : a mutation in RNA or DNA that results from the substitution of one purine base for the other or of one pyrimidine base for the other

Keep scrolling for more