Phased

Phased is the past participle of phase and an adjective used to describe something carried out in stages or that relies on phase relationships. Common usages include phased rollout or phased implementation, where work proceeds in discrete steps over time rather than all at once.

In engineering, phased most often appears in relation to phased array antennas. A phased array is a collection of radiating elements with adjustable relative phase. By altering the phase differences between elements, the main beam can be steered or shaped electronically, enabling rapid direction changes without moving the structure.

In policy, business, and program management, phased appears in phrases like phase-in, phase-out, and phased retirement. A phased rollout gradually introduces a product, service, or policy in stages to manage risk, test performance, and allocate resources effectively.

More broadly, phase and phasing denote the position of a periodic signal within its cycle. When systems are described as phased, they emphasize the importance of these phase relationships for coordination, synchronization, and control.