stead

1 of 2

noun

ˈsted 

1

: the office, place, or function ordinarily occupied or carried out by someone or something else

acted in his brother's stead

2

: advantage

—used chiefly in the phrase to stand one in good stead

3

obsolete : locality, place

stead

2 of 2

verb

steaded; steading; steads

transitive verb

: to be of avail to : help

Synonyms

Noun

• advantage
• better
• bulge
• catbird seat
• drop
• edge
• high ground
• inside track
• jump
• pull
• upper hand
• vantage
• whip hand

Examples of stead in a Sentence

Noun

a summer internship will stand you in good stead when applying to college

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In their stead, Ed Sheeran and Weezer will be joining the lineup. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2025

Christie before Monday’s game credited Valanciunas’ intangibles for fitting in and helping the offense play efficiently in Sabonis’ stead. —Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2025

The multibillion-dollar deal, struck last year, would end the Redstone family’s decades-long run atop Paramount and anoint Mr. Ellison and his son, David, in their stead. —Lauren Hirsch, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025

But after a series of flashbacks teasing a school field trip where Michael agreed to chaperone in busy-busy Amy’s stead, Michael called in a favor to get after-hours access to the museum where Danny breathed his last breaths. —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English stede, from Old English; akin to Old High German stat place, Old English standan to stand — more at stand

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing stead

• in someone's/something's stead
• stand someone/something in good stead

Rhymes for stead

• bed
• bled
• bread
• bred
• dead
• dread
• ed
• fed
• fled
• ged
• head
• lead

Kids Definition

stead

noun

ˈsted

1

: advantage sense 3, service

their knowledge of French stood them in good stead

2

: the place usually taken or duty carried out by the one mentioned

acted in the mayor's stead