ENGLISH
REFERENCE

transition

n. · v.
US //tɹænˈzɪʃən// UK //tɹænsˈɪʃən// tran·si·tion
  1. 1 process of change (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The country is currently undergoing a difficult transition from a planned economy to a market-based system, which has caused temporary instability.
  2. 2 gender identity (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The clinic provides comprehensive support for individuals at every stage of their medical and social transition.
    • gender transition
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  1. 3 connecting words (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The student's essay lacked smooth transitions, making the logical progression between his primary arguments difficult for the reader to follow.
  2. 4 sports play (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The coach emphasised the importance of a quick transition, urging the midfielders to release the ball immediately upon regaining possession.
  3. 5 music passage (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Music

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The composer utilised a clever chromatic transition to shift the piece from C major into the more somber tone of E-flat minor.
  4. 6 to undergo change (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to change from one state or stage to another.

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The department successfully transitioned to the new software platform without any significant loss of data or productivity.
  5. 7 to change gender identity (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

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

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

    Example

    She decided to transition while she was at university.

    Example

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

Origin

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

Word family

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