transition

play

noun tran·si·tion \tran(t)-ˈsi-shən, tran-ˈzi-, chiefly British tran(t)-ˈsi-zhən\

Definition of transition

1a : passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another : changeb : a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another
2a : a musical modulationb : 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

transitional

play \-ˈsish-nəl, -ˈsizh-, -ˈzish-; -ˈsi-shə-n^əl, -ˈzi-, -zhə-\ adjective

transitionally

adverb

See transition defined for English-language learners

See transition defined for kids

Examples of transition in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of transition from the Web

The very idea may sound like a parody of an acting class exercise, but the transitions from walking and speaking to pecking and clucking are sometimes stunning.

— anita gates, New York Times, "Review: ‘Chickens in the Yard,’ and Family Conflict, Too", 3 July 2017
Coaching was a natural transition once Brian’s playing days ended in Canada.

— mike carmin, The Courier-Journal, "No escaping football for Purdue's Brian Brohm", 30 June 2017
But speaking in Germany on Monday, Hammond restated his view that a lengthier transition period would be required to help businesses avoid a cliff-edge shift in their trading arrangements.

— tim ross, Bloomberg.com, "U.K. Cabinet Cracks Appear as May Seeks to Negotiate Brexit Deal", 27 June 2017
On Friday night CNN retracted a story about a Trump transition official, Anthony Scaramucci, and Russia.

— olivia nuzzi, Daily Intelligencer, "White House Reimagines Press Briefing as Opportunity to Scold Journalists", 27 June 2017
Fox's strategic transition to opinion has worked thus far.

— lucas shaw, chicagotribune.com, "Fox Sports cuts web writing staff to invest more in online video", 26 June 2017
That transition team official is Anthony Scaramucci, a Wall Streeter who was expected to take a prominent White House position but did not.

— the washington post, AL.com, "Three CNN employees resign after story on Russia ties retracted", 26 June 2017
And stop pretending that this isn’t an industry in the middle of a difficult and painful, albeit necessary transition.

— vanityfair.com, "John Oliver Pleads with Donald Trump: “Stop Lying” to Coal Miners", 19 June 2017
Entrenched in the #menswear moment, Schlossman witnessed menswear transition into Americana and eyeing different Japanese trends like raw denim rather than the colorful aesthetic that Bape maintained.

— david turner, Esquire, "How Bape Beat the Odds to Become a Streetwear Institution", 15 June 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of transition

Latin transition-, transitio, from transire

NEW!

First Known Use: 1551

See Words from the same year

transition

verb tran·si·tion

Definition of transition

intransitive verb
: to make a transition transition into college

See transition defined for English-language learners

Examples of transition in a Sentence

The company has transitioned to new management in the past year.
a student who is transitioning to a new school

First Known Use of transition

1946

TRANSITION Defined for English Language Learners

transition

play

noun

Definition of transition for English Language Learners

: a change from one state or condition to another

transition

verb

Definition of transition for English Language Learners

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

TRANSITION Defined for Kids

transition

play

noun tran·si·tion \tran-ˈsi-shən, -ˈzi-\

Definition of transition for Students

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

Medical Dictionary

transition

play play

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 genetic 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