Stages

Stages is the plural of stage, and in common use refers to discrete steps, phases, or periods in a process, development, or system. Recognizing stages helps organize sequences, assign responsibilities, and track progress. The term is widely used across disciplines to denote a roughly ordered progression rather than a single event.

In performance arts, a stage is a raised area where actors perform, musicians play, or speakers present. The plural stages can refer to multiple performance spaces within a venue or to distinct performative platforms used at festivals and theatres.

In biology and psychology, stages describe phases in growth, development, or behavior. Humans pass through stages of life such as infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. In insects and other organisms, life cycles include stages such as egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

In science, stages appear in descriptions of matter (stages of matter) and of processes that unfold over time, such as stages in a manufacturing or research workflow.

In medicine, staging systems classify the extent of disease, notably cancer, to guide treatment and prognosis. In project management, projects commonly progress through stages or phases such as initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure.