state
Americannoun
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the condition of a person or thing, as with respect to circumstances or attributes.
a state of health.
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the condition of matter with respect to structure, form, constitution, phase, or the like.
water in a gaseous state.
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status, rank, or position in life; station.
He dresses in a manner befitting his state.
- Synonyms:
- standing
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the style of living befitting a person of wealth and high rank.
to travel in state.
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a particular condition of mind or feeling.
to be in an excited state.
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an abnormally tense, nervous, or perturbed condition.
He's been in a state since hearing about his brother's death.
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a politically unified people occupying a definite territory; nation.
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the territory, or one of the territories, of a government.
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Sometimes State any of the bodies politic which together make up a federal union, as in the United States of America.
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the body politic as organized for civil rule and government (distinguished from church).
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the operations or activities of a central civil government.
affairs of state.
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Also called State Department. Informal. State. the Department of State.
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Printing. a set of copies of an edition of a publication which differ from others of the same printing because of additions, corrections, or transpositions made during printing or at any time before publication.
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Informal. the States, the United States (usually used outside its borders).
After a year's study in Spain, he returned to the States.
adjective
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of or relating to the central civil government or authority.
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made, maintained, or chartered by or under the authority of one of the commonwealths that make up a federal union: a state bank.
a state highway;
a state bank.
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characterized by, attended with, or involving ceremony.
a state dinner.
- Synonyms:
- dignified, imposing, ceremonial, stately
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used on or reserved for occasions of ceremony.
verb (used with object)
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to declare definitely or specifically.
She stated her position on the case.
- Synonyms:
- affirm, asseverate, assert, aver
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to set forth formally in speech or writing.
to state a hypothesis.
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to set forth in proper or definite form.
to state a problem.
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to say.
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to fix or settle, as by authority.
- Synonyms:
- determine
idioms
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state of mind. see state of mind.
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lie in state, (of a corpse) to be exhibited publicly with honors before burial.
The president's body lay in state for two days.
noun
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the condition of a person, thing, etc, with regard to main attributes
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the structure, form, or constitution of something
a solid state
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any mode of existence
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position in life or society; estate
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ceremonious style, as befitting wealth or dignity
to live in state
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a sovereign political power or community
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the territory occupied by such a community
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the sphere of power in such a community
affairs of state
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(often capital) one of a number of areas or communities having their own governments and forming a federation under a sovereign government, as in the US
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(often capital) the body politic of a particular sovereign power, esp as contrasted with a rival authority such as the Church
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obsolete a class or order; estate
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informal a nervous, upset, or excited condition (esp in the phrase in a state )
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(of a body) to be placed on public view before burial
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a situation; present circumstances or condition
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the current situation
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controlled or financed by a state
state university
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of, relating to, or concerning the State
State trial
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involving ceremony or concerned with a ceremonious occasion
state visit
verb
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to articulate in words; utter
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to declare formally or publicly
to state one's innocence
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to resolve
Related Words
State, condition, situation, status are terms for existing circumstances or surroundings. State is the general word, often with no concrete implications or material relationships: the present state of affairs. Condition carries an implication of a relationship to causes and circumstances: The conditions made flying impossible. Situation suggests an arrangement of circumstances, related to one another and to the character of a person: He was master of the situation. Status carries official or legal implications; it suggests a complete picture of interrelated circumstances as having to do with rank, position, standing, a stage reached in progress, etc.: the status of negotiations. See maintain.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of state
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English noun stat(e), partly from estat estate, partly from Latin status “condition” ( see status); the meanings state in defs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 derive from Latin status (rērum) ) “state (of things)” or status (reī pūblicae) “state (of the republic)”
Explanation
State can be a condition — like solid, liquid, or gas, or even sad or happy. It can also be a state as in Idaho or New York. To state is to say something. State comes from the Latin status, meaning "condition of a country." Interestingly, even before the Revolutionary War, Britain called the American colonies states. The “States” still refers to America, but state can refer to any country’s civil government. The idea of state as a physical or emotional condition came later. Depending on your state of mind, you can state that the state of your state is awesome. Unless it’s in a state of emergency, which is no good.
Vocabulary lists containing state
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 4
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The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After absorbing sunlight, it shifts into a strained, high-energy form and stays in that state until activated.
From Science Daily • May 15, 2026
Becerra, who is a slim-margin front-runner for governor, was the victim in this case — or more precisely, his state campaign bank account was, according to court documents.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026
While Predict 2026 isn’t sponsored by a prediction market platform, the notice from the Aria’s lawyer shows how licensed casinos are seeking to avoid scrutiny from state regulators.
From Barron's • May 14, 2026
Here’s a look at some key moments in Trump’s second state visit to China.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
Charlie wasn’t entirely broke up to see Glenn’s sorry state, and he put the stove back together.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
