phrase

noun
UK: /freɪz/
US: /freɪz/

  1. A group of words that has meaning, but is not a complete sentence.

    1. I didn't catch that phrase; could you repeat it again, please? [ ] [ ]
    2. The article used a phrase from Shakespeare to emphasize the importance of art. [ ] [ ]

  2. A short, well-known expression that is easy to remember.

    1. The phrase 'a piece of cake' means something is very easy. [ ] [ ]
    2. The politician used catchy phrases during his speeches to engage the audience. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

expression wording term utter
phrase verb

  1. To express something in words.

    1. How did you phrase your request to the manager? [ ] [ ]
    2. She carefully phrased her concerns to avoid causing offense to her colleagues. [ ] [ ]
phrase transitive-verb

  1. To divide a piece of music into smaller, more easily understood sections.

    1. The pianist was asked to phrase the melody more expressively. [ ] [ ]
    2. Good phrasing in music allows the listener to follow the composer's intentions clearly. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "phrase" in English means: A group of words that has meaning, but is not a complete sentence., A short, well-known expression that is easy to remember..

The phonetic transcription of "phrase" is /freɪz/ in British English and /freɪz/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "phrase": expression, wording, term, utter.

Example usage of "phrase": "I didn't catch that phrase; could you repeat it again, please?". More examples on the page.