state

noun, often attributive

\ ˈstāt

Definition of state

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

2a : 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

3a : social position especially : high rank

b(1) : elaborate or luxurious style of living

(2) : formal dignity : pomp —usually used with in

4a : a body of persons constituting a special class in a society : estate sense 3

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

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

5a : 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

7a : one of the constituent units of a nation having a federal government the fifty states

b States plural : The United States of America

8 : the territory of a state

state

verb

stated; stating

Definition of state (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to set by regulation or authority

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

Other Words from state Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about state

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of state in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

And farmers in those states, and perhaps others, seem to have a more complicated relationship with the developing trade issue. — Dante Chinni, NBC News, "Farmers back Trump's tariff fight, but don't think it helps them," 11 Aug. 2019 Swing Left meeting: Lisa Ferino of Reclaim Our Vote will talk about reaching disenfranchised communities in states such as Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, Texas and Mississippi and getting them to the polls. — SFChronicle.com, "Bay Area political events: Henry George podcast host, Dan Pfeiffer," 11 Aug. 2019 Migrants cross the Venezuela border in growingly desperate conditions, sometimes walking for days and in various states of starvation or deteriorated health. — Megan Janetsky, USA TODAY, "No country to call home? Some babies born in Colombia to Venezuelan parents lack birthright citizenship," 11 Aug. 2019 Vladimir Putin has drawn the current Orthodox leadership into a close political partnership in which both sides laud the need for a strong and geopolitically confident Russian state. — The Economist, "Church leaders in central and eastern Europe remain surprisingly loath to condemn their old adversary," 11 Aug. 2019 Judges can consider an individual’s history of domestic abuse, for example, under red-flag laws adopted in at least 17 states. — Julie Bosman, New York Times, "A Common Trait Among Mass Killers: Hatred Toward Women," 10 Aug. 2019 Authorities declared a state of emergency in the region and ordered the evacuation of residents of several districts in Achinsk, as well as towns and villages within 12.4 miles of the depot. — Fox News, "Fresh blast at Russian arms depot days after massive explosions," 10 Aug. 2019 The Edison High football team will be in Hawai’i for its first game of the season against Wailuku Baldwin on Friday, but the Chargers are not in a relaxed state of mind. — Andrew Turner, Daily Pilot, "High School Football Preview: Edison to trust that process will lead to winning season," 10 Aug. 2019 But as some Trump aides were drafting that speech, others were casting doubt on the significance of a climate threat to a key battleground state: the degradation of coral reefs in Florida. — Michael Wilner, sun-sentinel.com, "Trump administration throws cold water on climate change threat to Florida’s coral reefs," 10 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

High times, security open Outside Lands, Aug. 10, A9 In some editions, the story that began on Page One incorrectly stated the start date of a ban on single-use plastic water bottles at San Francisco International Airport. — SFChronicle.com, "Corrections, Aug. 11," 9 Aug. 2019 Those budget entries showed a spending total that was $23 million more than what Sweetwater stated in its overall adopted budget, Simonson said. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Sweetwater school district budget understated spending by as much as $20 million, county official says," 8 Aug. 2019 The Trump administration’s stated policy is to target virtually any unauthorized immigrant – regardless of their length of residence in the U.S. or their social, economic and family ties to the U.S. — Emily Ryo, The Conversation, "How ICE enforcement has changed under the Trump administration," 29 July 2019 The voluntary nature of the contribution must be clearly stated in the request for the contributions. — Hailey Auglair | Hauglair@al.com, al.com, "A surprise each fall: Back-to-school supply, fee costs," 21 July 2019 Overall, 37% of respondents stated that more personal recognition would encourage them to produce better work more often. — Tom Cooney And Crystal Faulkner, Cincinnati.com, "BusinessWise: Recognition is key to great company culture," 19 July 2019 Ford’s involvement wasn’t stated in the emoji’s proposal, which was filed under the name of someone from a marketing firm that works with Ford. — Jacob Kastrenakes, The Verge, "Ford secretly proposed a pickup truck emoji, and it might make it to our phones next year," 17 July 2019 As Sano stated, there’s no real downside to maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine, going easy on alcohol, and refraining from smoking cigarettes. — Maggie O'neill, Health.com, "Can Alzheimer’s Be Stopped? Here’s What the Latest Research Says," 15 July 2019 An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that she was affiliated with the University of San Diego. — Alison Gopnik, WSJ, "How Early Do Cultural Differences Start?," 11 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'state.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for state

state

noun

English Language Learners Definition of state

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

state

verb

English Language Learners Definition of state (Entry 2 of 2)

: to express (something) formally in speech or writing

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

See the full definition for state in the English Language Learners Dictionary

state

noun

\ ˈstāt

Kids Definition of state

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : manner or condition of being Steam is water in the gaseous state. … the health inspector was rather picky about the state of the cafeteria …— Pam Zollman, Don't Bug Me!

2 : a body of people living in a certain territory under one government : the government of such a body of people

3 : one of the divisions of a nation having a federal government the United States of America

state

verb

stated; stating

Kids Definition of state (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to express especially in words I'm just stating my opinion.

2 : to set by rule, law, or authority The rules of the contest are stated below.

state

noun

\ ˈstāt

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

Keep scrolling for more

state

noun, often attributive

Legal Definition of state

1a : a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory especially : one that is sovereign

b : the political organization that has supreme civil authority and political power and serves as the basis of government — see also compelling state interest at interest sense 3a, separation of church and state

c : a government or politically organized society having a particular character a police state

2 : the operations or concerns of the government of a country : the sphere of administration and supreme political power of a country (as in international relations) secrets of state affairs of state

3a : one of the constituent units of a nation having a federal government specifically : one of the fifty such units comprising the great part of the U.S. — see also state law

b : the territory of a state