A transitional period is one in which things are changing from one state to another.
...a transitional period following more than a decade of civil war.
We are still in the transitional stage between the old and new methods.
Synonyms: changing, passing, fluid, intermediate More Synonyms of transitional
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Transitional is used to describe something that happens or exists during a transitional period.
The main rebel groups have agreed to join in a meeting to set up a transitional government.
Synonyms: temporary, working, acting, short-term More Synonyms of transitional
Examples of 'transitional' in a sentence
transitional
There needs to be a joint transitional period and room to address each case individually.
The Sun (2016)
She is only four so is at that transitional stage but it was a great effort and she should improve a lot.
The Sun (2016)
He also called for clarity on whether the government would seek transitional arrangements to give businesses more breathing space before a new system is implemented.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Some EU figures want as long as a five-year transitional period in some sectors.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Young adulthood is a transitional period for parents as well as for their adolescents.
Steinberg, Laurence & Levine, Ann You and Your Adolescent: A Parents' Guide for Ages 10 to 20 (1990)
There are certain objective difficulties connected with the conditions of a transitional stage.
Aganbegyan, Abel Inside Perestroika: The Future of the Soviet Economy (1990)
The pair will talk about a possible transitional government.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You might also argue for a longer transitional period.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
That could take the form of a transitional government.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It was a transitional period for me and put me back on course.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In this transitional period we can still find the old approaches in some places.
Aganbegyan, Abel Inside Perestroika: The Future of the Soviet Economy (1990)
The agreed framework for the negotiations was that all sides would work together to form a transitional government.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This transitional stage is one in which values and attitudes which had previously been important no longer carry such weight.
Pearson, Althea Growing Through Loss and Grief (1994)
He added that the message he gave the dictator was that it was time to go and pressed for a transitional government.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In this history of otherness, we are at a transitional stage.
Boyne, Roy Foucault and Derrida - The Other Side Of Reason (1990)
With the club being in a transitional period you don't know who will stay or go.
The Sun (2007)
Originally, this was for a transitional period only.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They identified six transitional stages :?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They said that they would not join a transitional government before he left office; a key part of the handover plan.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
She's a woman who came to me saying she was in a transitional stage, wondering where the next challenge was for her.
Christianity Today (2000)
A long, transitional stage as the Tour makes its way west.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
transitional
British English: transitional ADJECTIVE
A transitional period is one in which things are changing from one state to another.
...a transitional period following more than a decade of civil war.
American English: transitional
Brazilian Portuguese: de transição
Chinese: 过渡的
European Spanish: transitorio
French: transitoire
German: Übergangs-
Italian: di transizione
Japanese: 変わり目の
Korean: 과도적인
European Portuguese: de transição
Latin American Spanish: transitorio
1 (adjective)
a transitional period following a decade of civil war
Synonyms
changing
passing
fluid
intermediate
Consider breaking the journey with intermediate stopovers.
unsettled
Despite the unsettled weather, we had a marvellous weekend.
developmental
transitionary
2 (adjective)
a meeting to set up a transitional government
Synonyms
temporary
She was working as a temporary teacher at a Belfast school.
working
acting
The new acting President has a reputation for being independent.
short-term
interim
an interim report
fill-in
caretaker
The administration intends to hand over power to a caretaker government.
provisional
the possibility of setting up a provisional coalition government
makeshift
makeshift shelters of branches and leaves
make-do
stopgap
pro tem
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acting
Definition
temporarily performing the duties of
The new acting President has a reputation for being independent.
Synonyms
temporary,
substitute,
intervening,
interim,
provisional,
surrogate,
stopgap,
pro tem
in the sense of caretaker
Definition
performing the duties of an office temporarily
The administration intends to hand over power to a caretaker government.
Synonyms
temporary,
holding,
short-term,
interim
in the sense of interim
Definition
temporary or provisional
an interim report
Synonyms
temporary,
provisional,
makeshift,
acting,
passing,
intervening,
caretaker,
improvised,
transient,
stopgap,
pro tem
Synonyms of 'transitional'
transitional
Explore 'transitional' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of intermediate
Definition
occurring between two points or extremes
Consider breaking the journey with intermediate stopovers.
Synonyms
middle,
mid,
halfway,
in-between (informal),
midway,
intervening,
transitional,
intermediary,
median,
interposed
in the sense of makeshift
Definition
serving as a temporary substitute
makeshift shelters of branches and leaves
Synonyms
temporary,
provisional,
make-do,
substitute,
jury,
expedient,
rough and ready,
stopgap
in the sense of provisional
Definition
temporary or conditional
the possibility of setting up a provisional coalition government
Synonyms
temporary,
interim,
transitional,
stopgap,
pro tem
in the sense of unsettled
Definition
constantly changing or moving from place to place
Despite the unsettled weather, we had a marvellous weekend.