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

Their language skills will stand them in good stead when they travel.

3

obsolete : locality, place

stead

2 of 2

verb

steaded; steading; steads

transitive verb

: to be of avail to : help

Synonyms of stead

Noun

• advantage
• edge

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

Joe Webb struggled mightily in Ponder’s stead, as the Vikings scored only three points over the game’s first 56 minutes. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026

In his stead, Jaivian Thomas worked with the first team. —Gabriel Duarte, Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026

Bench coach Don Mattingly takes over in his stead, though former Red Sox manager Alex Cora — fired last week — was offered the job first. —Chris Branch, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2026

When the Embassy moved to Nine Elms in 2018, Londoners buzzed about who and what might move in in its stead. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for stead

• bed
• bled
• bread
• bred
• dead
• dread
• ed
• fed
• fled
• ged
• head
• lead

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