ADJ

distinct
The process has three distinct stages
early, first, initial, opening, preliminary
advanced, closing, final, last, late, latter, terminal
Her husband was in the advanced stages of cancer
halfway, intermediate, secondary
transitional
successive
critical, crucial, important, key, main
easy
The book guides you through making your own website in easy stages
difficult
delicate, vulnerable
embryonic, larval, pupal
experimental, exploratory
committee, design, development/developmental, formative, planning
The scheme is still at the planning stage
knockout, semi-final, etc.
Colombia's win sent them through to the knockout stage of the tournament

VERB + STAGE

go/move/pass through
The water goes through three stages of purification
enter, reach
We've entered a crucial stage in the project

PREP

at a/the ~
You should read this article at some stage
by ~s
The university was put together by stages
during/in a/the ~
in the early stages of the job
in ~s
We renovated the house in two stages
~ in
an important stage in her life
~ of
the latter stages of the race

PHRASES

the beginning/end of a stage
Pupils are tested at the end of each stage of the course
a/one stage further
take the investigation one stage further
a stage of development/life

ADJ

centre (often figurative)
A new actress will take centre stage in next month's production of ' The Doll's House '
revolving

VERB + STAGE

go on, take (to)
He was too nervous to go on stage. I was shaking as I took the stage. She took to the stage when she was at university
leave
She left the stage to tumultuous applause
set
(often figurative) The thrilling semi-finals set the stage for what should be a great game
boo sb off

STAGE + NOUN

management, manager
direction
Shakespeare's famous stage direction: 'Exit, pursued by a bear.'
play, production, show
appearance, performance, role
set
The stage set is the most expensive ever built
door
name
David Harries adopted the stage name Dixon Hare when he became a full-time actor
left, right
fright
Even experienced actors can suffer from stage fright

PREP

off ~
A trumpet sounded off stage
on ~
The entire cast is on stage in the final scene