transition
gb/tɹænzˈɪʃən/ us/tɹænzˈɪʃən/
B1
English
~ 3000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
event
1
process of change or shift
A change from one state or situation to another.
Usage pattern:
a transition from [something] to [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'transition' with 'translation', which refers to changing language, not state or condition.
Synonyms
changeover (Often used for a complete switch from one system or arrangement to another.)
Antonyms
stability (Refers to a state of remaining the same without change.)
Collocations
smooth transition
|transition period
|transition phase
|transition process
|transition plan
Themes
life
|business
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company is undergoing a major transition in leadership.
- Her transition from student to teacher was challenging.
- The transition to renewable energy will take time.
- He struggled during the transition between jobs.
Learner examples
- The transition from winter to spring is slow.
- She made a transition from school to work.
- The country is in a transition to democracy.
- This is a time of transition for our team.
Verb
B2
action
2
to change from one state to another
To move or change from one state to another.
Usage pattern:
to transition from [something] to [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may incorrectly use 'transition' without 'to' or 'from' when both are needed for clarity.
Synonyms
shift (Can imply a less formal or less structured change.)
Antonyms
remain (To stay in the same state without change.)
Collocations
transition smoothly
|transition successfully
|transition quickly
Themes
life
|business
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She transitioned from working in finance to teaching.
- The country is transitioning to a new political system.
- We need to help students transition into the workplace.
Learner examples
- He will transition from school to work.
- I am transitioning to a new job.
- They are transitioning from old rules to new rules.
Noun
technical
B1
entity
3
change between scenes or sounds
A way to move from one scene or sound to another in movies, videos, or music.
Synonyms
segue (More often used in speech or music for a smooth, uninterrupted change.)
Antonyms
cut (An abrupt change between shots or scenes without gradual blending.)
Collocations
fade transition
|scene transition
|smooth transition
Themes
media
|technology
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Examples
- The director used a fade transition between the two scenes.
- Good transitions make a video feel more professional.
- We added a sound transition to connect the songs.
Learner examples
- The movie had a smooth scene transition.
- I saw a fade transition in the video.
- The sound transition was very nice.
Grammar
Dictionary form
transition
IPA
GB/tɹænzˈɪʃən/
US/tɹænzˈɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
trans - ition (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ition)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: transition
- Plural: transition, transitions
Verb
- Base: transition
- 3rd Person Singular: transitions
- Present Participle: transitioning
- Past: transitioned
Word family
Forms
transitions
noun
transitioning
verb
transitioned
verb
Core family
transitional
adjective B2
Related words
transit
noun B1
Advanced or less common
Expressions
in transition
1/ˈɪn tɹænzˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
in the process of changing
Changing from one state or situation to another.
Examples
- The company is in transition after the merger.
- Our society is in transition towards renewable energy.
smooth transition
1/smˈuð tɹænzˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
easy and problem-free change
A change that happens without problems or difficulty.
Examples
- We hope for a smooth transition after the election.
- Training helps ensure a smooth transition for new employees.
transition period
1/tɹænzˈɪʃən pˈɪɹiəd/
fixed phrase
time during which change happens
A time when something is changing from one state to another.
Examples
- The first month is a transition period for new students.
- This is an important transition period in the project.