stately
Americanadjective
-
majestic; imposing in magnificence, elegance, etc..
a stately home.
adverb
adjective
adverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of stately
First recorded in 1350–1400, stately is from the Middle English word statly. See state, -ly
Explanation
To be stately is to appear noble and impressive, almost in a larger than life kind of way. You may encounter a stately gentleman or a stately statue. If you do, take a little bow. There are a few meanings of stately, but they both refer to people and things that have an impressive bearing. The first meaning has to do with nobility and class. A ceremony honoring a prince is stately, and the music and dress surrounding such events are stately. Stately things convey sophistication and regality. Also, stately can mean statuesque. Someone with great posture and an impressive physique is stately, almost as if they were made by a sculptor.
Vocabulary lists containing stately
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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.
Instead of a stately pre-World War II Delahaye or Duesenberg, buyers are flocking to modern 1,000-horsepower Bugatti Veyrons, Ferraris or Porsches modified by Singer.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
“From arrival, the stately facade, dramatic architectural lines, and sweeping sight lines create a striking first impression.”
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
He had already become the first to open an English stately home to the public, and this new venture took the securing of Longleat's financial future to a whole new level.
From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026
A moment later, both vehicles drove off at a stately pace, as if nothing had happened.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026
She was very tall for a woman, slender and graceful, and moved slowly down the gangplank with the stately self-consciousness which happened to be the fashionable gait for a lady at the moment.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
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.
