state

¹state

noun, often attributive \ˈstāt\

: a way of living or existing

: the overall physical condition of something : the ability of something to be used, enjoyed, etc.

: the things that affect the way you think or feel : your physical or mental condition

Full Definition of STATE

1

a :  mode or condition of being <a state of readiness>

b (1) :  condition of mind or temperament <in a highly nervous state> (2) :  a condition of abnormal tension or excitement

2

a :  a condition or stage in the physical being of something <insects in the larval state> <the gaseous state of water>

b :  any of various conditions characterized by definite quantities (as of energy, angular momentum, or magnetic moment) in which an atomic system may exist

3

a :  social position; especially :  high rank

b (1) :  elaborate or luxurious style of living (2) :  formal dignity :  pomp —usually used with in

4

a :  a body of persons constituting a special class in a society :  estate 3

b plural :  the members or representatives of the governing classes assembled in a legislative body

c obsolete :  a person of high rank (as a noble)

5

a :  a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory; especially :  one that is sovereign

b :  the political organization of such a body of people

c :  a government or politically organized society having a particular character <a police state> <the welfare state>

6

:  the operations or concerns of the government of a country

7

a :  one of the constituent units of a nation having a federal government <the fifty states>

b plural capitalized :  The United States of America

8

:  the territory of a state

Examples of STATE

1. Happiness is the state or condition of being happy.
2. We must keep our armed forces in a constant state of readiness.
3. She meditates to achieve a higher state of being.
4. The building is in such a sorry state that it's hardly worth fixing.
5. water in a gaseous state
6. the solid and liquid states
7. the member states of the United Nations Security Council

Origin of STATE

Middle English stat, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French estat, from Latin status, from stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to STATE

Synonyms

commonwealth, country, land, sovereignty (also sovranty), nation

Related Words

city-state, microstate, ministate, nation-state; domain, dominion, empire, kingdom, realm, republic; duchy, dukedom, emirate, principality, seigniory (or seignory), sultanate; democracy, dictatorship, monarchy, monocracy, oligarchy, sovereign (also sovran), theocracy; client state, colony, condominium, dependency, mandate, province, settlement, soil, trust territory; fatherland, homeland, motherland; great power, power, sea power, superpower, world power; welfare state

Near Antonyms

debasement, degradation; subordinateness, subordination; baseness, commonness, inferiority, lowliness, lowness

Rhymes with STATE

ait, bait, bate, blate, cate, crate, date, eight, fate, fete, freight, gait, gate, grate, great, haet, hate, late, mate, pate, plait, plate, prate, quoit, rate, sate, skate, slate, spate, straight, strait, teth, trait, wait, weight

²state

transitive verb

: to express (something) formally in speech or writing

: to give (specific information, instructions, rules, etc.) in writing

stat·edstat·ing

Full Definition of STATE

1

:  to set by regulation or authority

2

:  to express the particulars of especially in words :  report; broadly :  to express in words

— stat·able or state·able \ˈstā-tə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of STATE

1. The lawyer will state the facts of the case.
2. He stated his name in full.
3. I was merely stating an opinion.
4. “This is a difficult situation,” he stated simply.
5. Please state the purpose of your visit.
6. I'd like to state for the record that I disagree with the board's decision.
7. For the reasons stated above, I hereby withdraw from the competition.
8. The rules clearly state that you can only draw one card.

First Known Use of STATE

1579

Related to STATE

Synonyms

articulate, clothe, couch, express, formulate, put, say, phrase, word

Antonyms

stifle, suppress

Related Words

craft, frame; hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, suggest; paraphrase, rephrase, restate, reword, summarize, translate; communicate, disclose, speak, talk, tell, utter, verbalize, vocalize; describe, render, write up

Near Antonyms

stifle, suppress

state

noun \ˈstāt\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of STATE

: mode or condition of being: as a : condition of mind or temperament <a manic state> b : a condition or stage in the physical being of something <the gaseous state of water>

state

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Political organization of society, or the body politic, or, more narrowly, the institutions of government. The state is distinguished from other social groups by its purpose (establishment of order and security), methods (its laws and their enforcement), territory (its area of jurisdiction), and sovereignty. In some countries (e.g., the U.S.), the term also refers to nonsovereign political units subject to the authority of the larger state, or federal union.