station

1 of 2

noun

sta·​tion ˈstā-shən How to pronounce station (audio)
1
a
: the place or position in which something or someone stands or is assigned to stand or remain
b
: any of the places in a manufacturing operation at which one part of the work is done
c
: equipment used usually by one person for performing a particular job
2
: the act or manner of standing : posture
3
: a stopping place: such as
a(1)
: a regular stopping place in a transportation route
a bus station
(2)
: the building connected with such a stopping place : depot sense 3
b
: one of the stations of the cross
4
a
: a post or sphere of duty or occupation
b
: a stock farm or ranch especially of Australia or New Zealand
5
: standing, rank
a woman of high station
6
: a place for specialized observation and study of scientific phenomena
a seismological station
a marine biological station
7
: a place established to provide a public service: such as
a(1)
b
: a branch post office
8
9
a
: a complete assemblage of radio or television equipment for transmitting or receiving
b
: the place in which such a station is located

station

2 of 2

verb

stationed; stationing ˈstā-sh(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce station (audio)

transitive verb

: to assign to or set in a station or position : post entry 7
station a guard at the door

Examples of station in a Sentence

Noun They drove him to the bus station. The waiters were at their stations in the dining room. The sailors were ordered to man their battle stations. He had married above his station. They were aware of her station in life. Verb He stationed the guards around the camp. They stationed troops at the border. He stationed himself by the door to greet the guests.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
On the right, the advertisement prompted the Alabama Republican Party to pen a letter to the bosses of TV stations running it, accusing the ad of making false claims. Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 30 Apr. 2024 Nexstar, the largest TV station owner in the U.S., has maintained that the operation is profitable. Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2024 And then there’s the issue of actually making sure that charging stations get built along the routes that truckers use. Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2024 Florida’s Safe Haven Law enables parents to surrender their newborns to hospitals, fire stations and EMS stations. Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 29 Apr. 2024 That’s the bridge taken by fans who get to the park via State Rd. 836 (aka Dolphin Expressway) west or by taking Metrorail to the Jackson Hospital area station and walking. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2024 Since the 2015 deadly Islamist attacks, France has become sadly accustomed to terrorist threats and to soldiers patrolling its crowded squares and train stations, their fingers resting near the triggers of machine guns. Ségolène Le Stradic, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2024 Staff can see every patient from the central nurses’ station, eliminating the need for one-to-one sitters. Grace Rubenstein, STAT, 26 Apr. 2024 While slower than the high-speed units at public stations, at-home chargers more than make up for it in convenience. Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2024
Verb
At the time of the attack, Brannon was an active-duty member of the U.S. Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendleton, according to the Department of Justice. USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024 About 99 percent of the incoming munitions were intercepted by Israel’s missile defense system, with support from U.S. and British fighter jets and U.S. military assets stationed in Iraq and the eastern Mediterranean Sea. William Neff, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024 Born about 18 months apart, Bryan and Taylor spent the early years of their childhood living in Japan, where their father, Victor Dewayne Bryan, was stationed for the U.S. Navy. Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024 Supporters of Niger’s junta have mobilized for protests on Saturday to rail against the presence of US military personnel still stationed in the country. Michael Rios, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024 Jordan’s critics also rebuke the government for stationing soldiers and police along the 192-mile-long border with Israel and placing security personnel along the main roads near the Israeli Embassy — deriding those moves as working in the interests of Israel. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024 With Mexico’s armed National Guard now stationed at the most popular crossing sites along southeastern San Diego County, migrant routes have shifted further into the remote wilderness, where people face more extreme terrains and temperatures with little to no infrastructure to keep them alive. Emily Baumgaertner, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024 Four robots are currently stationed in North Texas, running tests for Post Net. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2024 Pickens was stationed with the 805th Tank Destroyer Battalion at Faïd Pass in Tunisia in 1943, according to the exhibition page. Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'station.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English stacioun, from Anglo-French estation, statiun, from Latin station-, statio, from stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1685, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of station was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near station

Cite this Entry

“Station.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/station. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

station

1 of 2 noun
sta·​tion ˈstā-shən How to pronounce station (audio)
1
: the place or position in which something or someone stands or is assigned to stand or remain
2
: a regular stopping place : depot
drove him to the bus station
3
a
: a post or area of duty or occupation
b
: a stock farm or ranch of Australia or New Zealand
4
: social or official position : rank
a person of high station
5
: a place for specialized scientific observation and study especially in or near the field or in natural surroundings
a biological station
a weather station
6
: a place established to provide a public service
police station
fire station
power station
7
a
: a complete collection of radio or television equipment for transmitting or receiving
b
: the place in which such a station is located

station

2 of 2 verb
stationed; stationing ˈstā-sh(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce station (audio)
: to assign to or set in a station or position : post
station a guard at the door

Medical Definition

station

noun
sta·​tion ˈstā-shən How to pronounce station (audio)
1
: the place at which someone is positioned or is assigned to remain
the nurse's station on a hospital ward
2
: the act or manner of standing : posture
station was unsteady with the eyes open or closedDiseases of the Nervous System
3
: a place established to provide a service see aid station

More from Merriam-Webster on station

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