English Reference

Word

transition

Phoneticstran·si·tion, stress on the second syllable

US/tɹænˈzɪʃən/

UK/tɹænsˈɪʃən/

Definitions

01process of change

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

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.

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

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

02gender identity

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun 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.

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

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

Synonyms

gender transition

03connecting words

C1 · Advanced Countable noun 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.

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

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

Synonyms

04sports play

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Sports

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.

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

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

Synonyms

turnovercounter-attack

05music passage

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Music Technical

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.

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

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

Synonyms

06to undergo change

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.

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

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

Synonyms

Antonyms

07to change gender identity

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.

“She decided to transition while she was at university.”

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

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “transition” in context.

Verb

01. ease transition

“The government introduced new grants to ease the transition to renewable energy.”

verb + noun

02. make transition

“It can be difficult for employees to make the transition from office work to remote work.”

verb + noun

03. mark transition

“The retirement party was organized to mark his transition into a new phase of life.”

verb + noun

Adjective

04. gradual transition

“A gradual transition to the new software system will help minimize technical errors.”

adj + noun

Noun

05. transition from

“The transition from childhood to adulthood involves many physical and emotional changes.”

noun + prep

Real-World Examples

“The UK has already transitioned to online-only voting, starting with this year's contest.”
BBC News 14 Aug 2026
“It took about 2bn years for the first cellular nucleus to develop, enabling the transition from primitive prokaryotic bacteria to more advanced eukaryotes.”
The Guardian 11 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

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.

Word family

NOUN

transition(B2)

Domains

AviationEducationMedicineMusicSports

This entry

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
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

QR code

englishreference.com/q/transition

English Reference