English Reference
noun · verb

transition

n. · v.
US /tɹænˈzɪʃən/ UK /tɹænsˈɪʃən/ tran·si·tion UK spelling transitioned, transitions

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.the process of changing from one condition or stage to another.

    n.the process or a period of changing from one state, stage, or condition to another.

    Simple

    The transition from being a student to working full-time can be difficult.

    In context

    The country is currently undergoing a difficult transition from a planned economy to a market-based system, which has caused temporary instability.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    n.the process of changing your social or physical characteristics to match your gender identity.

    n.the process of changing one's gender role or physical characteristics to align with their gender identity through social, legal, or medical means.

    Simple

    He felt much happier after starting his transition and living as a man.

    In context

    The clinic provides comprehensive support for individuals at every stage of their medical and social transition.

    gender transition
  3. 03 C1 Advanced Academic

    n.a word or phrase that connects two ideas or parts of a story.

    n.a linguistic device, such as a word or phrase, used to connect one part of a discourse or text to another.

    Simple

    Use words like 'however' or 'therefore' as a transition between paragraphs.

    In context

    The student's essay lacked smooth transitions, making the logical progression between his primary arguments difficult for the reader to follow.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    n.the moment in a game when a team switches from defending to attacking.

    n.the phase of play where a team switches from a defensive posture to an offensive one, or vice versa.

    Simple

    The team is very fast in transition and scores many goals on the counter-attack.

    In context

    The coach emphasised the importance of a quick transition, urging the midfielders to release the ball immediately upon regaining possession.

    turnovercounter attack
  5. 05 C1 Advanced Technical Music

    n.a short part of a song that connects two different sections.

    n.a musical passage or modulation that connects two themes or changes the key of the piece.

    Simple

    The transition from the verse to the chorus felt very natural.

    In context

    The composer utilised a clever chromatic transition to shift the piece from C major into the more somber tone of E-flat minor.

  6. 06 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to change from one state or stage to another.

    v.to undergo or cause to undergo a process of change from one state or stage to another; often used intransitively.

    Simple

    The company is trying to transition to a paperless office by next year.

    In context

    The department successfully transitioned to the new software platform without any significant loss of data or productivity.

  7. 07 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to begin living as a different gender than the one you were assigned at birth.

    v.to undergo the process of changing one's gender role or physical characteristics to align with one's gender identity.

    Simple

    She decided to transition while she was at university.

    In context

    The employer implemented new policies to support staff members who choose to transition during their tenure at the firm.

Usage transition period · ease transition · gradual transition

The UK has already transitioned to online-only voting, starting with this year's contest.

BBC News· 14 Aug 2026

Last July, the transition period was extended by five years , clearing him to continue leading the country until at least 2030.

BBC News· 13 Aug 2026

Etymology tree Middle French transitionbor. English transition From Middle French transition, from Latin transitio. By surface analysis, transit + -ion.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin transitio
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated