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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tom Krisher, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Earthquakes are recorded by a network of seismic stations that measure the movement of the ground, according to the USGS.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
The incident occurred just before 4 p.m. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority said on X that trains were temporarily bypassing the station.
—Emily Davies, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
The 23-year-old office manager works a block away the Metro Center station, the scene of Wednesday night's fatal shooting.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 4 Apr. 2024
The station is set to be built on 33 of 110 acres of land that Brightline owns in the area, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
By contrast, California boasts just over 105,000 charging stations for plug-in vehicles.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
After deputies found the woman at the gas station, she was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 4 Apr. 2024
How to prepay to ride the CONNECT 1 Each of the CONNECT line's 32 stations will have a payment validator located on the platform.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
The live event will include four astrophotographers stationed in different cities across the path of totality in Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse, Michigan, Florida, New Mexico, and Ontario, Canada.
—Passant Rabie / Gizmodo, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024
That’s the case of a female officer stationed in Belgrade, Serbia, at the time of the incident in 2021 who previously worked on matters related to Russia.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024
But despite the decrepit nature of the vessel that has long since been seaworthy, the Philippine government has reportedly kept marines stationed on the vessel to stake claim to the contested area, according to the U.S. Naval Institute.
—Caitlin McFall, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
Fact check: Post wrongly asserts migrants who illegally enter US can't be arrested
There was no such influx in the days before this post, though National Guard troops were stationed in Eagle Pass as part of Gov. Greg Abbott's border enforcement efforts, the New York Times reported on March 19.
—Andre Byik, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024
Two sheriff's deputies were stationed outside to guard his home.
—Averi Harper, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024
Dance teams were stationed along each of the foul lines, led by emcees who were part in-game hosts, part cheerleaders and part Vegas street performers.
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Aregbesola was an aviation machinist's mate 2nd class and was stationed on the USS Mason in the Red Sea.
—USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
But electric vehicle sales growth slowed during the first three months of the year, with mainstream buyers wary of limited range and a lack of charging stations.
—Tom Krisher, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Earthquakes are recorded by a network of seismic stations that measure the movement of the ground, according to the USGS.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
The incident occurred just before 4 p.m. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority said on X that trains were temporarily bypassing the station.
—Emily Davies, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
The 23-year-old office manager works a block away the Metro Center station, the scene of Wednesday night's fatal shooting.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 4 Apr. 2024
The station is set to be built on 33 of 110 acres of land that Brightline owns in the area, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
By contrast, California boasts just over 105,000 charging stations for plug-in vehicles.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
After deputies found the woman at the gas station, she was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 4 Apr. 2024
How to prepay to ride the CONNECT 1 Each of the CONNECT line's 32 stations will have a payment validator located on the platform.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
Verb
The eclipse will start at Mexico’s Pacific coast, before entering the United States in Texas, where Nye will be stationed.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
The live event will include four astrophotographers stationed in different cities across the path of totality in Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse, Michigan, Florida, New Mexico, and Ontario, Canada.
—Passant Rabie / Gizmodo, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024
That’s the case of a female officer stationed in Belgrade, Serbia, at the time of the incident in 2021 who previously worked on matters related to Russia.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024
But despite the decrepit nature of the vessel that has long since been seaworthy, the Philippine government has reportedly kept marines stationed on the vessel to stake claim to the contested area, according to the U.S. Naval Institute.
—Caitlin McFall, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
Fact check: Post wrongly asserts migrants who illegally enter US can't be arrested
There was no such influx in the days before this post, though National Guard troops were stationed in Eagle Pass as part of Gov. Greg Abbott's border enforcement efforts, the New York Times reported on March 19.
—Andre Byik, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024
Two sheriff's deputies were stationed outside to guard his home.
—Averi Harper, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024
Dance teams were stationed along each of the foul lines, led by emcees who were part in-game hosts, part cheerleaders and part Vegas street performers.
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Aregbesola was an aviation machinist's mate 2nd class and was stationed on the USS Mason in the Red Sea.
—USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2024
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 19 Apr. 2024.
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
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