# transition

/tɹænˈzɪʃən/ (US) · /tɹænsˈɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/transition
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. process of change

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. gender identity

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. connecting words

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. sports play

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 5. music passage

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

### 6. to undergo change

verb · CEFR B2

to change from one state or stage to another.

For teachers: 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.

### 7. to change gender identity

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The transition to the new software is difficult for some staff.
- The company is managing a smooth transition from traditional manufacturing to fully automated production lines.
- Sociologists often study the difficult transition from adolescence to adulthood, focusing on how economic independence influences the timing of traditional life milestones.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.