staid

1 of 3

adjective

ˈstād 

: marked by settled sedateness and often prim self-restraint : sober, grave

a staid and serious business executive

a staid demeanor/manner

staidly adverb

staidness noun

staid

2 of 3

past tense and past participle of stay

staidness

3 of 3

noun

staid·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being staid : regularity, sedateness, seriousness, steadiness

Synonyms of staid

Adjective

• solemn
• serious
• stern

Choose the Right Synonym for staid

serious, grave, solemn, sedate, staid, sober, earnest mean not light or frivolous.

serious implies a concern for what really matters.

a serious play about social injustice

grave implies both seriousness and dignity in expression or attitude.

read the proclamation in a grave voice

solemn suggests an impressive gravity utterly free from levity.

a sad and solemn occasion

sedate implies a composed and decorous seriousness.

remained sedate amid the commotion

staid suggests a settled, accustomed sedateness and prim self-restraint.

a quiet and staid community

sober stresses seriousness of purpose and absence of levity or frivolity.

a sober look at the state of our schools

earnest suggests sincerity or often zealousness of purpose.

an earnest reformer

Examples of staid in a Sentence

Adjective

a staid and solemn businessman

everyone was surprised by the racy joke from the usually staid professor

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Before the yuppie era, a certain staid gentility prevailed. —Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 15 June 2026

The entryway is grand and gilded, the staff deferential and efficient (and always greeting you by name), but flashes of modern style and edgy attitude save the place from seeming staid. —Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026

Dinner is an uncharacteristically staid menu of artichoke salad and roast chicken breast, punctuated by speeches and awards. —Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 June 2026

Gone are the staid, neutral colors of the former store. —Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from past participle of stay entry 3

First Known Use

Adjective

1557, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for staid

• aid
• aide
• bade
• blade
• braid
• clade
• dade
• fade
• flayed
• fraid
• frayed
• gade

Kids Definition

staid

1 of 2 adjective

ˈstād 

1

: not easily changed : settled, fixed

a staid opinion

2

a

: calm and serious in manner, attitude, or style

b

: not bold, bright, or showy

staid colors

staidly adverb

staidness noun

staid

2 of 2

past and past participle of stay