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
Growing up as a Korean-American in the States, Halloween costumes were always not Asian.
—
Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
As thousands of immigrants are apprehended, jailed and deported by federal forces on claims of being in the States illegally, the specific conditions of a single person’s experience show the complexity of such claims.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Inclement weather put a damper on the States Up Invitational, but Texas State softball still managed to go 2-2, bringing its overall record to 5-4.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Tuesday’s English-language telecast in the States was on Fox Sports 2, except for 12 minutes in the second half when the network suddenly and inexplicably interrupted coverage to switch to … a college basketball game between Iowa State and TCU?
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Back in the States, a brutal car ride over a wintery, bumpy road awaited her.
—Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Over the past year, British rappers have captivated young listeners in the States.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2026
Charlie, home to care for his ailing father after having emigrated to the States some years before, is likewise underdeveloped beyond that circumstantial detail.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
Joy Dunne scored off an assist from Tessa Janecke to put the States up 2-0.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
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Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
As thousands of immigrants are apprehended, jailed and deported by federal forces on claims of being in the States illegally, the specific conditions of a single person’s experience show the complexity of such claims.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Inclement weather put a damper on the States Up Invitational, but Texas State softball still managed to go 2-2, bringing its overall record to 5-4.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Tuesday’s English-language telecast in the States was on Fox Sports 2, except for 12 minutes in the second half when the network suddenly and inexplicably interrupted coverage to switch to … a college basketball game between Iowa State and TCU?
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Back in the States, a brutal car ride over a wintery, bumpy road awaited her.
—Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Over the past year, British rappers have captivated young listeners in the States.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2026
Charlie, home to care for his ailing father after having emigrated to the States some years before, is likewise underdeveloped beyond that circumstantial detail.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
Joy Dunne scored off an assist from Tessa Janecke to put the States up 2-0.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“The States.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20States. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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