phase out meaning and examples

2025-09-21

Meaning

“Phase out” means to gradually stop using, producing, or providing something over a period of time until it is completely discontinued.

It often describes policies, products, or services being removed step by step instead of all at once.

Part of speech: Phrasal verb (transitive)
Pattern: phase out + noun
It is typically used in passive or active forms:
- The government plans to phase out coal power.
- Plastic bags are being phased out.

verb + phase out: plan to phase out, decide to phase out, gradually phase out
noun + phase out: phase-out policy, phase-out period, gradual phase-out
adjective + phase out: complete phase-out, partial phase-out

The company will phase out its older models within the next two years.
Single-use plastics are being phased out in many countries.
The school decided to phase out paper textbooks and move to digital versions.
Fossil fuel subsidies will be phased out by 2030.
The airline is planning to phase out its smaller aircraft.
The old system was gradually phased out after the new one was introduced.
Traditional bulbs are being phased out in favor of LED lighting.