stage

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈstāj 

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)

: soundstage

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

: stagecoach

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

ˈstāj-ˌfu̇l 

noun

stagelike

ˈstāj-ˌlīk 

adjective

stage

2 of 5

verb (1)

ˈstāj 

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

ˈstā-jə-bəl 

adjective

stage

3 of 5

adjective

ˈstāj 

: intended to represent a type or stereotype

a stage Irishman

a stage French accent

stage

4 of 5

noun (2)

ˈstäzh 

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)

ˈstäzh 

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

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• podium
• platform
• stand

Verb (1)

• present
• offer
• give
• perform
• carry

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

Noun

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher went on one of his bad-boy tirades during a performance at the 1996 show by swearing, wandering the stage and making lewd gestures during his brother Noel's guitar solo. —Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025

Joining their director on stage for a Q&A Saturday night at the film's world premiere screening at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, the ensemble cast reflected on their time making the third film in the Knives Out franchise, with each actor praising the dynamic of the stars. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025

Verb

Two of her plays are being staged in Milwaukee in 2025-'26. —Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025

Limited pushback is largely because Democrats do not have the numbers in Missouri to stage a walkout. —Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025

Adjective

Cheng Xin | Getty Images For example, Viking Therapeutics on Tuesday released mid-stage trial data that disappointed investors, sending its stock down as much as 40%. —Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2025

Topline Shares of Viking Therapeutics plummeted more than 43% Tuesday after the company revealed poorer-than-expected mid-stage trial data for its experimental weight-loss pill, joining Eli Lilly with similar historic losses as pharmaceutical firms compete to develop an oral weight-loss drug. —Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025

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

Phrases Containing stage

• center stage
• end-stage
• go on the stage
• late-stage capitalism
• report stage
• set the stage
• share a stage with
• stage a revolt
• stage business
• stage direction
• stage director
• stage door
• stage fright
• stage left
• stage-manage
• stage manager
• stage name
• stage play
• stage presence
• stage right
• stage set
• stage whisper
• take center stage
• take the stage
• thrust stage

Rhymes for stage

• age
• gauge
• phage
• plage
• rage
• wage
• alienage
• assuage
• backstage
• bocage
• downstage
• engage

Kids Definition

stage

1 of 2 noun

ˈstāj 

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

ˈstāj 

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 disease

—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.

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