What does "phrase" mean?
A short written or spoken expression.
Phrase
/fɹeɪz/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A short written or spoken expression.
- Grammar: phrase is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: expression, idiom, set phrase, adage.
- Useful contrasts: clause, clause type, clauses.
- Usage evidence: You know the phrase, we reap what we sow. I have sown the wind and this is my storm.
How to use "phrase"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "phrase" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "phrase" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "phrase" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "phrase" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "phrase" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "expression" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "phrase", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A short written or spoken expression.
- 2 dance movements that are linked in a single choreographic sequence wordnet
- 3 A word or, more commonly, a group of words that functions as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence, always containing an expressed or implied head (the principal word or subgroup, with core importance) and often consisting of a head plus some other elaborating words.
"Holonyms: clause, sentence; phrasing, phraseology, turn of phrase; phrase-book; document, message; language; communication"
- 4 an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence wordnet
- 5 A small section of music in a larger piece.
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 a short musical passage wordnet
- 7 A mode or form of speech; diction; expression. archaic
"Thou speak'st / In better phrase and matter than thou didst."
- 8 an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up wordnet
- 9 A short individual motion forming part of a choreographed dance.
Verb
- 1 To express (an action, thought or idea) by means of particular words. transitive
"I wasn't sure how to phrase my condolences without sounding patronising."
- 2 divide, combine, or mark into phrases wordnet
- 3 To perform (a passage) with a particular phrasing. intransitive, transitive
- 4 put into words or an expression wordnet
- 5 To divide into melodic phrases. transitive
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"You know the phrase, we reap what we sow. I have sown the wind and this is my storm."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "phrase"?
Common synonyms include: expression, idiom, set phrase, adage, address, adjectival phrase.
How do you use "phrase" in a sentence?
You know the phrase, we reap what we sow. I have sown the wind and this is my storm.
How do you pronounce "phrase"?
Pronounced /fɹeɪz/.
Etymology
From Late Latin phrasis (“diction”), from Ancient Greek φράσις (phrásis, “manner of expression”), from φράζω (phrázō, “I tell, express”).
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