stages
n. countable B1 Intermediate US //ˈsteɪdʒəz// UK //stˈeɪdʒɪz// stages
n. the different parts or steps of a process. You use this when something happens over a period of time rather than all at once.
n. distinct periods or steps in a process of development or a series of events. Often used to categorise progress within a linear sequence.
The project is in its final stages.
The butterfly goes through several distinct stages of development before it can fly.
Economists argue that the country is currently transitioning between the early and middle stages of industrialisation, necessitating a shift in fiscal policy to support urban growth.
Usage
Commonly used with the preposition 'of' or 'in' ('in the stages of').