the place of a person or thing as occupied by a successor or substitute.
The nephew of the queen came in her stead.
Obsolete. a place or locality.
rare (preceded by in) the place, function, or position that should be taken by another
to come in someone's stead
to be useful or of good service to (someone)
before 900; (noun) Middle English, Old English stede; cognate with German Stätte place; akin to German Stadt, Old Norse stathr, Gothic staths, Greek stásis ( see stasis); (v.) Middle English steden, derivative of the noun
Someone's stead is their position, or occupation. The eager understudy to starring role leapt at the chance to serve in the lead actor's stead when he mysteriously got food poisoning. Stead comes from the Germanic root for "place, town," but we usually use it for a person's place, and most frequently when someone is serving as a substitute. If you serve in someone's stead, you're doing their job for them while they're not there. You probably intuitively know this word from the more common instead, which is just a shortening for "in the stead of."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bruce Broussard, a member of the company’s board of directors since 2021, has been acting as interim CEO in his stead.
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
It suggests, if I may be so bold, an upbeat and calm frame of mind that will stand you in good stead during this process.
From MarketWatch ● May 21, 2026
Midfielder Kenny McLean believes the experience against high-calibre opposition will stand Scotland in good stead before this summer's World Cup.
From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2026
Some of them were dead, and their families answered the questionnaires about past glyphosate exposure in their stead.
From Slate ● Mar. 5, 2026
I discovered that my father’s method of teaching me Talmud and his patient insistence that I learn Talmudic grammar—I had painfully memorized an Aramaic grammar book—was now standing me in good stead.
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
When Kayley Stead was left alone at the altar on her big day, she did what few would think to do - let the wedding continue.
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
According to Mr Stead, Leeds lost out because although Metro backed the plan Leeds City Council were lukewarm.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2025
Westlake 10, Agoura 2: Noah Stead had a grand slam for Westlake.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2025
Noah Stead hit a three-run home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh on March 28 for a 4-1 win over Newbury Park.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 11, 2025
Stead a coats though, it say something like “Drop off your old toilets at 228 Myrtle Street. We’ll be out of town, but leave them in front by the door.”
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
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.
