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

After her husband’s passing, Valeria was reluctant to continue the event in his stead but had seen the permeative impact in real time. —Essence, 2 Sep. 2024

Either the United States engages to shape those consequences to serve its interests, or others will shape the consequences in its stead. —Thomas R. Pickering, Foreign Affairs, 14 Mar. 2023

Letitia Wright does not yet have the movie-star charisma of Boseman before her and is not quite up to the task of carrying the immense weight of the film as Princess Shuri trying to figure out how to rule Wakanda in her brother's stead. —Moises Mendez Ii, TIME, 23 July 2024

King’s widow, Coretta, accepted the award in his stead. —Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 11 July 2024

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
• to stand one in good stead

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