the States
plural noun
informal
: the United States of America
My cousin from England is coming to visit me in the States.
Examples of the States in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
According to a 2024 report from the Education Commission of the States, 36 states mandate a minimum number of days per school year.
—
Alexia Aston, Oklahoman, 7 Apr. 2026
Besides changing the names, what was the key to adapting a Norwegian film for the States?
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2026
That’s cause for some concern regarding the Prius’ future here in the States.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 2 Apr. 2026
Carthen quickly made a name for herself in high fashion after returning to the States last summer.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
The film crossed the $100 million milestone in the States on Wednesday.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
Naturally, the quirky lawsuit caught the public’s attention, as did Afroman’s testimony that the music videos fell with his First Amendment rights — a hot-button topic across the States right now.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 25 Mar. 2026
Those ships were moved back to the States on a heavy-lift vessel in January for eventual scrapping.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
The last time all of the members took the stage together in the States was back in 2022, for BTS’ Permission to Dance on Stage shows.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alexia Aston, Oklahoman, 7 Apr. 2026
Besides changing the names, what was the key to adapting a Norwegian film for the States?
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2026
That’s cause for some concern regarding the Prius’ future here in the States.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 2 Apr. 2026
Carthen quickly made a name for herself in high fashion after returning to the States last summer.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
The film crossed the $100 million milestone in the States on Wednesday.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
Naturally, the quirky lawsuit caught the public’s attention, as did Afroman’s testimony that the music videos fell with his First Amendment rights — a hot-button topic across the States right now.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 25 Mar. 2026
Those ships were moved back to the States on a heavy-lift vessel in January for eventual scrapping.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
The last time all of the members took the stage together in the States was back in 2022, for BTS’ Permission to Dance on Stage shows.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“The States.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20States. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
