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
6
: a place for specialized observation and study of scientific phenomena
a seismological station
a marine biological station
7
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
stationed; stationing
ˈstā-sh(ə-)niŋ 
: 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.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
The first, Scott Lehr, was convicted of murdering three women and was also charged with several rapes and brutal attacks on women, according to the station.
—CBS News, 20 Nov. 2023
Coast Guard Rescues Spotty Dog from Icy Detroit River: 'Pretty Grateful'
The Florida air station shared the rescue story in a Facebook post.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 20 Nov. 2023
For decades, emergency care in Border Patrol stations was provided primarily by agents with basic medical training.
—Nick Miroff, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023
The station’s announcement comes a couple of months after Swift and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce sparked dating rumors when the Grammy winner attended the football star’s game against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 24.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2023
The other will be a tanker version to carry methane and liquid oxygen to the gas station.
—Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023
In one video, protesters were seen climbing an area above a station entrance then waving Palestinian flags.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 18 Nov. 2023
Among the equipment being delivered to the station is an experimental high-speed laser communications package designed to send and receive data encoded in infrared laser beams at much higher rates than possible with traditional radio systems.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2023
Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2023
Prince George’s County police on Tuesday identified two Riverdale Elementary School students who were struck and killed by a van driver while walking to school on Monday and said a crossing guard normally stationed in the area had retired before the school year began.
—Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
News outlets have long worried about the physical safety of journalists stationed in war zones, and are now becoming cognizant that spending hours watching disturbing video can be an emotional drain.
—David Bauder, Fortune, 13 Nov. 2023
One scene, previewed in an exclusive clip below, reimagines that night, depicting Samuel Adams — one of the country's founding fathers — distracting members of the British Army stationed in Boston as a group of patriots unboxed the tea to throw into the water.
—Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023
In 1998, Hanks starred in Saving Private Ryan, Spielberg’s fictional account of an Army battalion tasked with bringing home a soldier who is the only survivor of four brothers stationed overseas.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Nov. 2023
Brian Jeffrey Raymond, of La Mesa, California, took hundreds of videos and photographs of naked, unconscious women dating to 2006 in various countries where he was stationed, officials said.
—Phil Helsel, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2023
Police were stationed throughout the school, and students began to view one another with suspicion again.
—Robert Samuels, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2023
During his last couple of decades living in West Hollywood, Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister made the Rainbow a second home, stationing himself between tours at the end of the patio bar to play a favorite video game console, smoke cigarettes and drink Jack and Cokes.
—Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023
See More
Noun
Cooper, a basketball analyst for KABC-TV Channel 7, confirmed to the station that the victim of the shooting at Washington Park was his brother, Mickey, 64.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
The first, Scott Lehr, was convicted of murdering three women and was also charged with several rapes and brutal attacks on women, according to the station.
—CBS News, 20 Nov. 2023
Coast Guard Rescues Spotty Dog from Icy Detroit River: 'Pretty Grateful'
The Florida air station shared the rescue story in a Facebook post.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 20 Nov. 2023
For decades, emergency care in Border Patrol stations was provided primarily by agents with basic medical training.
—Nick Miroff, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023
The station’s announcement comes a couple of months after Swift and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce sparked dating rumors when the Grammy winner attended the football star’s game against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 24.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2023
The other will be a tanker version to carry methane and liquid oxygen to the gas station.
—Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023
In one video, protesters were seen climbing an area above a station entrance then waving Palestinian flags.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 18 Nov. 2023
Among the equipment being delivered to the station is an experimental high-speed laser communications package designed to send and receive data encoded in infrared laser beams at much higher rates than possible with traditional radio systems.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2023
Verb
Callie, who owns a wedding florist company in San Diego and was married on Friday, is now 30; Jacob, a Phoenix geologist who is engaged to be married next April, is 27, and Katelyn, a graphic designer for a Phoenix-area resort, and Ryan, a Navy gunner’s mate stationed in Norfolk, Va., are 23.
—Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2023
Prince George’s County police on Tuesday identified two Riverdale Elementary School students who were struck and killed by a van driver while walking to school on Monday and said a crossing guard normally stationed in the area had retired before the school year began.
—Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
News outlets have long worried about the physical safety of journalists stationed in war zones, and are now becoming cognizant that spending hours watching disturbing video can be an emotional drain.
—David Bauder, Fortune, 13 Nov. 2023
One scene, previewed in an exclusive clip below, reimagines that night, depicting Samuel Adams — one of the country's founding fathers — distracting members of the British Army stationed in Boston as a group of patriots unboxed the tea to throw into the water.
—Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023
In 1998, Hanks starred in Saving Private Ryan, Spielberg’s fictional account of an Army battalion tasked with bringing home a soldier who is the only survivor of four brothers stationed overseas.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Nov. 2023
Brian Jeffrey Raymond, of La Mesa, California, took hundreds of videos and photographs of naked, unconscious women dating to 2006 in various countries where he was stationed, officials said.
—Phil Helsel, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2023
Police were stationed throughout the school, and students began to view one another with suspicion again.
—Robert Samuels, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2023
During his last couple of decades living in West Hollywood, Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister made the Rainbow a second home, stationing himself between tours at the end of the patio bar to play a favorite video game console, smoke cigarettes and drink Jack and Cokes.
—Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2023
See More
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
Phrases Containing station
Dictionary Entries Near station
Cite this Entry
“Station.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/station. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
station
1 of 2 noun
sta·tion
ˈstā-shən
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
: 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
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 closed—Diseases of the Nervous System
Diseases of the Nervous System3
: a place established to provide a service see aid station
More from Merriam-Webster on station
Nglish: Translation of station for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of station for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share