state
Americannoun
-
states
plural
-
the condition of a person or thing, as with respect to circumstances or attributes.
a state of health.
-
the condition of matter with respect to structure, form, constitution, phase, or the like.
water in a gaseous state.
-
status, rank, or position in life; station.
He dresses in a manner befitting his state.
- Synonyms:
- standing
-
the style of living befitting a person of wealth and high rank.
to travel in state.
-
a particular condition of mind or feeling.
to be in an excited state.
-
an abnormally tense, nervous, or perturbed condition.
He's been in a state since hearing about his brother's death.
-
a politically unified people occupying a definite territory; nation.
-
the territory, or one of the territories, of a government.
-
Sometimes State any of the bodies politic which together make up a federal union, as in the United States of America.
-
the body politic as organized for civil rule and government (distinguished from church).
-
the operations or activities of a central civil government.
affairs of state.
-
Also called State Department. Informal. State. the Department of State.
-
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.
-
Informal. the States, the United States (usually used outside its borders).
After a year's study in Spain, he returned to the States.
adjective
-
of or relating to the central civil government or authority.
-
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.
-
characterized by, attended with, or involving ceremony.
a state dinner.
- Synonyms:
- dignified, imposing, ceremonial, stately
-
used on or reserved for occasions of ceremony.
verb (used with object)
-
states,
present (3rd person singular)
-
stated,
past participle, past
-
stating
present participle
-
to declare definitely or specifically.
She stated her position on the case.
- Synonyms:
- affirm, asseverate, assert, aver
-
to set forth formally in speech or writing.
to state a hypothesis.
-
to set forth in proper or definite form.
to state a problem.
-
to say.
-
to fix or settle, as by authority.
- Synonyms:
- determine
idioms
-
state of mind. see state of mind.
-
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
-
the condition of a person, thing, etc, with regard to main attributes
-
the structure, form, or constitution of something
a solid state
-
any mode of existence
-
position in life or society; estate
-
ceremonious style, as befitting wealth or dignity
to live in state
-
a sovereign political power or community
-
the territory occupied by such a community
-
the sphere of power in such a community
affairs of state
-
(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
-
(often capital) the body politic of a particular sovereign power, esp as contrasted with a rival authority such as the Church
-
obsolete a class or order; estate
-
informal a nervous, upset, or excited condition (esp in the phrase in a state )
-
(of a body) to be placed on public view before burial
-
a situation; present circumstances or condition
-
the current situation
-
controlled or financed by a state
state university
-
of, relating to, or concerning the State
State trial
-
involving ceremony or concerned with a ceremonious occasion
state visit
verb
-
to articulate in words; utter
-
to declare formally or publicly
to state one's innocence
-
to resolve
Synonym Usage
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
Derived Forms
-
statehoodnoun
-
substatenoun
-
counterstateverb
-
outstateverb (used with object)
-
antistateadjective
-
statableadjective
-
stateableadjective
-
unstatableadjective
-
unstateableadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
statesimple
-
statessimple
-
have statedperfect
-
has statedperfect
-
am statingprogressive
-
are statingprogressive
-
is statingprogressive
-
have been statingperfect progressive
-
has been statingperfect progressive
Past
-
statedsimple
-
had statedperfect
-
was statingprogressive
-
were statingprogressive
-
had been statingperfect progressive
Future
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 4
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Mangione also faces a separate state trial in the case.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Those potential costs led many state Medicaid programs and some health plans to restrict coverage of the drug to the sickest patients.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
Heads of state, billionaires, royalty, global celebrities and other high-profile people were exposed and implicated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
The California grizzly is so important to our self-image that 180 years ago, we put one on the flag that evolved into the state flag.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Are you looking for a racism-free state, sis?”
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
What’s more, vacant homes are a particular concern in some states because many policies reduce coverage after 30-60 days of vacancy, the law firm adds.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
Essendant has issued more than 1,100 layoffs across five other states.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
When it comes to elections, most states have laws prohibiting election betting in some form or fashion, according to a Pew Research Center analysis released in June.
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
For now, most German states have lifted the Sunday trucking ban -- banking on a mode of transport with a far heavier carbon footprint than river boats.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
Germany would also lose large chunks of territory to Belgium and other neighboring states, to newly independent Poland, and to other newborn nations created by Allied statesmen as they redrew the map of Europe.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
This was one of the stated reasons for the imposition of recent tariffs on Brazilian goods.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
“That’s the Congressionally mandated role of the CFTC. As stated in the order, Kalshi is required to operate as normal to maintain market integrity and stability.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Residents have stated the coaster runs relatively quiet, noting that there were no complaints until it began testing with guests.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
The stated reason was to let U.S. troops at a British base tour the Qatari-gifted aircraft, which had been freshly repainted in red, white, blue, and gold.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
It also stated that any person “not being an Indian” who tried to settle or hunt on Muscogee lands would not be protected by the United States.
From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
The new rules formalise that process, stating that "where deemed necessary" the EBU, which organises Eurovision, "may commission an independent security assessment of the winner's region".
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
The finder must also provide an affidavit stating when and where the property was found and describing it in detail.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
Children will learn from home for as long as the air quality remains poor, mayor Edi Rusdi Kamtono said in a statement Monday, without stating how many schools were affected.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
Hughes is seeking relief for $1.5 billion in debt that matured on Aug. 1, stating it lacks the cash to pay off the debt.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
He arrived at our door with a written note stating that his name was Lekuyu but we were kindly requested to call him Nelson.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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.
