Definition

Adverb: 1. In a manner that serves as a transition: Describes an action, state, or process that connects two different stages, forms, or conditions, often temporarily. 2. In a way that is not permanent or final: Indicates something is intermediate, provisional, or serving as a bridge between more stable states.

Usage Examples

• As a connecting step or phase:
  • The government is using these measures transitionally to stabilize the economy before implementing long-term reforms.
  • The old software will run transitionally alongside the new system for one month.
• Describing a temporary manner or state:
  • She was appointed transitionally until a permanent manager could be hired.
  • The team worked transitionally from a remote office during the renovations.

Advanced Usage

• In academic or technical contexts: Often used to describe processes in fields like linguistics, biology, or sociology.
  • The species exhibits transitionally features between reptiles and birds.
  • This dialect is transitionally spoken in the border regions between the two language zones.

Variants and Related Words

• Transition (n): The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.
  • The country is in a period of economic transition.
• Transitional (adj): Relating to or characteristic of a transition.
  • They set up a transitional government.
• Transition (v): To undergo or cause to undergo a process of change.
  • The company is transitioning to a new database.

Synonyms

• Interimly: For an intervening or temporary period.
• Provisionally: Arranged or existing for the present, possibly to be changed later.
• Temporarily: For a limited period of time; not permanently.

Antonyms

• Permanently: In a way that lasts or remains unchanged indefinitely.
• Finally: In a conclusive, ultimate, or permanent manner.

Related Phrases and Usage Notes

• Used with abstract processes: The adverb is frequently applied to abstract concepts like phases, policies, or states rather than concrete actions.
  • The law was applied transitionally to ease the societal shift.
• Often implies progression: Its use typically suggests movement from one defined point to another, not a static condition.

Adverb

1. as a transitional step or in a transitional manner