stated; stating
1
: to express the particulars of especially in words : report
state your full name
broadly
: to express in words
merely stating an opinion
2
: to set by regulation or authority
stat·able
variants
or stateable
ˈstātəbəl 
-ātə-
: capable of being stated
philosophical problems … statable as specific questions—
J. E. Smith
J. E. SmithExamples of state in a Sentence
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
Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2026
The work largely expresses that same message, repeatedly, though Plensa does have a graceful way of stating the obvious in his three-dimensional objects — and that makes many of the pieces gratifying to gaze upon.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 7 June 2026
The landmark ruling removes legal uncertainty over the election process, stating that public order cannot be disrupted in the name of protest.
—ABC News, 7 June 2026
The mayor's office stated that, as of May 30, 2026, the Baltimore Police Department officers have seized over 850 firearms this year.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for state
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Iran had stated that any attack on the Lebanese capital would amount to war.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2026
The work largely expresses that same message, repeatedly, though Plensa does have a graceful way of stating the obvious in his three-dimensional objects — and that makes many of the pieces gratifying to gaze upon.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 7 June 2026
The landmark ruling removes legal uncertainty over the election process, stating that public order cannot be disrupted in the name of protest.
—ABC News, 7 June 2026
The mayor's office stated that, as of May 30, 2026, the Baltimore Police Department officers have seized over 850 firearms this year.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for state
Cite this Entry
“State.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/state. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
state
1 of 3 noun1
a
: manner or condition of being
a state of readiness
b
: condition of mind or disposition
in a highly nervous state
2
a
: a condition or stage of the physical makeup of something
water in the gaseous state
b
: a stage in the growth or development of a plant or animal
the larval state
3
a
: a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory
b
: the political organization of such a body of people
4
: one of the units of a nation having a federal government
the United States of America
5
: the territory of a state
stateless
adjective
-ləs
state
2 of 3 adjective1
: suitable or used for ceremonies or official occasions
state robes
2
: of or relating to a national state or to one state of a federal government
a state church
a state legislature
3
: of or relating to the government : governmental
state secrets
state
3 of 3 verb
stated; stating
1
: to set by regulation or authority
the law stated times for inspection
2
: to express in words
state an opinion
Medical Definition
state
noun
: 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
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