phrase

1 of 2

noun

ˈfrāz 

1

: a characteristic manner or style of expression : diction

2

a

: a brief expression

especially : catchphrase

b

: word

3

: a short musical thought typically two to four measures long closing with a cadence

4

: a word or group of words forming a syntactic constituent with a single grammatical function

an adverbial phrase

5

: a series of dance movements comprising a section of a pattern

phrase

2 of 2

verb

phrased; phrasing

transitive verb

1

a

: to express in words or in appropriate or telling terms

b

: to designate by a descriptive word or phrase

2

: to divide into melodic phrases

Synonyms

Noun

• expression
• idiom

Verb

• articulate
• clothe
• couch
• express
• formulate
• put
• say
• state
• word

Examples of phrase in a Sentence

Noun

Answer the questions in complete sentences, not phrases.

She used the phrase “I strongly believe” too many times in her speech.

Underline the key words or phrases in the paragraph.

To borrow a phrase from my mother, I spend too much time “watching the boob tube” and not enough time outside.

Verb

He phrased his version of the story in a way that made him look good.

The question was awkwardly phrased.

The singer phrased the music beautifully.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Travel host Jo Franco shares four must-learn phrases in any foreign language to help you on your journey and sound more like a local. —Andrew Torgan, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024

This phrase removes agency and suggests a lack of decision-making power, which can undermine a leader’s authority. —Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Verb

Here’s a guide to field dressing a deer or similar animal, which is a nice way to phrase gut removal. —Wes Siler, Outside Online, 15 Oct. 2024

With this new endorsement, Swift can assure her fans she’s still got her feminist cred, even as she’s phrased it carefully to give her more Trump-leaning fans room for plausible deniability. —Constance Grady, Vox, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin phrasis, from Greek, from phrazein to point out, explain, tell

First Known Use

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing phrase

• noun phrase
• phrase book
• prepositional phrase
• turn of phrase

Kids Definition

phrase

1 of 2 noun

ˈfrāz 

1

: a brief expression

especially : one commonly used

2

: a small unit of a musical passage usually several measures long

3

: a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not form a complete sentence

"out the door" in "they ran out the door" is a phrase

phrasal

ˈfrā-zəl

adjective

phrasally

-zə-lē

adverb

phrase

2 of 2 verb

phrased; phrasing

1

: to express in words

2

: to divide into musical phrases