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
phrased; phrasing
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
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
Emma Marris, The Atlantic, 25 May 2025
The impetus to travel overland to Afghanistan at 19 came from a need — for want of a better phrase — to discover something within myself, not to discover Afghanistan.
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2025
Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2025
Include how to phrase these questions tactfully and what responses might indicate a poor fit.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for phrase
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
That much of the act’s power can be destroyed by tweaking its definition of one phrase reveals its central weakness.
—Emma Marris, The Atlantic, 25 May 2025
The impetus to travel overland to Afghanistan at 19 came from a need — for want of a better phrase — to discover something within myself, not to discover Afghanistan.
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2025
Verb
Netanyahu even had a document prepared, phrased as if Bar had written it, for the agency chief to sign.
—Gershom Gorenberg, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2025
Include how to phrase these questions tactfully and what responses might indicate a poor fit.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for phrase
Cite this Entry
“Phrase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phrase. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
phrase
1 of 2 noun1
: 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
adjective
ˈfrā-zəl
phrasally
adverb
-zə-lē
phrase
2 of 2 verb
phrased; phrasing
1
: to express in words
2
: to divide into musical phrases
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