in state

Idioms  

1. With pomp and ceremony, as in The foreign leaders were dining in state at the White House. This expression, dating from the late 1600s, also appears in lie in state, said of a dead body ceremoniously exposed to public view before being interred. This latter usage, dating from about 1700, is generally confined to important public figures, as in His Majesty lay in state in the palace.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in state

For example, Pennsylvania created programs to educate high-schoolers about municipal careers, preparing them for roles in state and local government.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 9, 2026

They included Proposition 1, which authorizes $11.25 billion in state bonds to finance affordable housing programs, with $1.25 billion set aside for housing for veterans.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

Others made their breakthroughs in state and local politics.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

One of the people who campaigned for him was William Arnold, who had spent nearly seven years in state prison before his conviction was dismissed following examination by a Davidson County conviction review unit.

From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2026

Gay told me, “The ruling says that Florida’s laws ‘provide sufficient protection’ for children in state care.”

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

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