I. stage 1 S1 W1 /steɪdʒ/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: estage , from Vulgar Latin staticum , from Latin stare 'to stand' ]
1 . TIME/STATE [countable] a particular time or state that something reaches as it grows or develops ⇨ phase , step
stage of/in
the early stages of a child’s development
It’s a good move at this stage in his career.
We’re getting to the stage where we hardly ever go out together.
2 . PART OF PROCESS [countable] one of the parts which something such as a competition or process is divided into
stage of
The team reached the semi-final stage of the competition.
stage two/six etc
We’re now reaching the end of stage three of the construction.
The next stage is to complete an application form.
in stages
The rest of the money will be paid in stages (=a small amount at a time) .
3 . THEATRE [countable] the raised area in a theatre which actors or singers stand on when they perform ⇨ backstage
on stage
She is on stage for most of the play.
She appeared on stage with George Michael.
4 . ACTING the stage acting as a profession, especially in theatres:
I wanted to go on the stage (=become an actor) .
stars of stage and screen (=theatre and cinema)
5 . centre stage if someone or something is centre stage, it has everyone’s attention, or is very important:
Anne’s sculpture took centre stage at the show.
The UN has moved to the centre stage of world politics.
6 . PLACE [singular] a place or area of activity where something important happens
on the world/international/political etc stage
He’s an experienced campaigner on the world stage.
important figures on the European political stage
stage for
Geneva has been the stage for many such conferences.
7 . set the stage for something to prepare for something or make something possible:
Will this agreement merely set the stage for another war?
⇨ ↑ landing stage
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ adjectives
▪ the early/initial stages
Sometimes there are problems in the early stages of a project.
▪ the later/final/closing stages
She was well cared for during the final stages of her life.
▪ the halfway stage
He was in the lead at the halfway stage.
▪ an advanced stage
Negotiations are at an advanced stage.
▪ a new stage
It marked the beginning of a new stage in my life.
▪ a critical/crucial stage (=very important because it affects the future success of something)
The football season is reaching a crucial stage.
▪ a formative stage (=when someone or something is developing)
This plan is still in its formative stages.
▪ a difficult/an awkward stage
He was 13 and going through that awkward stage.
■ verbs
▪ reach/get to a stage
We have reached the stage where no-one is safe to walk our streets at night.
▪ enter a stage
He is entering a new stage of his career.
▪ go through a stage
Most young people go through a rebellious stage.
▪ mark a stage
The election marks an important stage in the rebuilding of the country.
▪ take something a stage further
We then took the experiment a stage further.
■ phrases
▪ a stage of development
We have several ideas in various stages of development.
▪ at one stage (=at a time in the past)
At one stage I had to tell him to calm down.
▪ at some stage
Four out of ten people are likely to contract cancer at some stage in their lives.
▪ at this/that stage
At this stage his wife did not realise he was missing.
▪ at an early/late stage
I can’t change my plans at this late stage.
▪ at a later stage
These points will be dealt with at a later stage.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)
■ verbs
▪ be on stage
He was on stage for most of the first act.
▪ appear on stage
Recently she has appeared on stage in 'Private Lives'.
▪ go/come on stage
I never drink before going on stage.
▪ walk on stage/onto the stage
The audience broke into applause as soon as he walked on stage.
▪ take the stage (=go on stage)
The Charlatans took the stage in LA yesterday.
▪ leave the stage
Everyone except the main character gradually leaves the stage.
▪ come off stage
I came off stage last night and just collapsed in a heap.
▪ walk off the stage (=leave the stage, especially before you should)
The pianist walked off the stage after playing only a few notes.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ stage one of several parts of a long process, which happen one after another:
At this stage of the election campaign, it is impossible to predict who will win.
|
She is still in the early stages of pregnancy.
|
Piaget famously divided childhood into four separate stages.
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the opening stages of the race
▪ step one of the parts of a process that you have to do or deal with in order to go on to the next one:
The first step is to make a list of what you need.
|
What’s the next step?
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You have to do this one step at a time.
▪ phase one of the clearly separate stages of a process or activity, during which a type of activity takes place that is different from those in other phases:
the initial phase of the campaign
|
They were now entering the final phase of their journey.
▪ round one of the parts that an event or activity is divided into, especially talks or a sports competition:
the first round of the negotiations
|
the final round of the competition
|
The next round of the trade talks will be held in Geneva.
▪ point a specific time or moment during the course of something:
What do you really want at this point in your life?
|
By this point they were startng to feel more confident.
II. stage 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
1 . to organize a public event
stage a strike/demonstration/sit-in etc
Activists staged a protest outside the parliament.
exhibitions staged in Paris
The candidates’ public appearances were carefully staged (=not natural) .
2 . stage a comeback/recovery etc to start doing something again or being successful, after you had stopped or not been successful for some time:
He staged an amazing comeback.