Word
offstage
Phoneticsoff·stage, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɔfˈsteɪdʒ/
UK/ˈɒfsteɪdʒ/
Adverb of place
Definition
adv. away from the main stage, where the audience cannot see you. You use it for actors waiting to perform or things happening behind the scenes.
adv. occurring or situated in the area behind or beside the stage, out of view of the audience. Often extends figuratively to events kept private from public attention.
Examples
“The actor waits offstage before his big entrance.”
“The singer stays offstage until the lights dim and the band starts playing.”
“Even while the debate raged onstage, the real negotiation happened offstage, in quiet conversations that shaped the final agreement.”
Examples
simple
“The actor waits offstage before his big entrance.”
contextual
“The singer stays offstage until the lights dim and the band starts playing.”
complex
“Even while the debate raged onstage, the real negotiation happened offstage, in quiet conversations that shaped the final agreement.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “offstage” in context.
Verb
01. remain offstage
“The chorus remained offstage during the opening scene.”
verb + adverb
02. slip offstage
“She slipped offstage without the audience noticing her.”
verb + adverb
03. stand offstage
“She stood offstage, listening nervously for her music.”
verb + adverb
04. step offstage
“He stepped offstage to change his costume quickly.”
verb + adverb
05. wait offstage
“The actors waited offstage until they heard their cue to enter.”
verb + adverb
Noun
06. laughter from offstage
“There was laughter from offstage during the comedy scene.”
noun + prep + adverb
07. sound from offstage
“A loud sound from offstage made the audience jump.”
noun + prep + adverb
08. voice from offstage
“We heard a voice from offstage telling the actors to get ready.”
noun + prep + adverb
09. hear laughter from offstage
“We could hear laughter from offstage before the play started.”
10. remain offstage during the scene
“The main actors remained offstage during the opening scene.”
11. step offstage to change costume
“She stepped offstage to change costume between scenes.”
12. wait offstage for cue
“The dancers waited offstage for their cue to begin.”
Usage
Typically follows the verb it modifies; also appears before nouns when describing hidden actions.
Real-World Examples
“Anne-Catherine Gillet shone as Maïma, the feisty flower seller who translates the offstage woofs and growls of their canine overlord to her own advantage.” “As for the boxing, it almost entirely happens offstage in Odets’ script, which has the beats but not the usual arc of a sporting drama and whose fights are chiefly domestic and internal.” “T his Swedish circus two-hander begins with the performers offstage, and what sounds like the high-pitched notes of a glass harp.” “The set incorporates Clov’s kitchen rather than placing it offstage, while Hamm is classically positioned at the centre.” Etymology
From off + stage.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/offstage