phase out
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle out
Meanings
Stop using or providing something gradually
Why “out”? Pushing outward to eliminate. What is removed is sent away.
“I helped phase out a legacy service without disrupting customers.”
“The city phased out diesel buses over five years.”
Don't confuse with
Phase out means stop using or providing something gradually. Phase in means introduce something gradually in stages.
Test yourself
“I helped phase out a legacy service without disrupting customers.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
phase in
A contrast learners often mix up
Introduce something gradually in stages
burn out
Same out pattern: removal
Become exhausted from overwork; (of a fire) Stop burning because there is no fuel left; (of an electrical device) Stop working because of overheating; Destroy a building or vehicle by fire
cash out
Same out pattern: removal
Take money from an account or investment
chuck out
Same out pattern: removal
Discard something
clean out
Same out pattern: removal
Remove the contents of a place and clean it thoroughly
clear out
Same out pattern: removal
Tidy by removing things you don't need
cross out
Same out pattern: removal
Mark for deletion
cut out
Same out pattern: removal
Remove by cutting; Stop eating, using, or doing something completely
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “phase out”.
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