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
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But that’s not necessarily how much the device will cost in the States because geography and competition also play a role in pricing. Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026 The disc again sold well in Germany and continued the band’s rise in the States, Great Britain and other countries. Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026 The Still Finally Over It trek kicks off in Toronto this May before crossing the States and then heading to England in August. Alex Suskind, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026 Obviously, the great players out of the States have that dream as well. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026 With a spate of new store openings in the works, Uniqlo’s just getting started in the States, says USA CEO Fuminori Adachi. Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2026 The findings reveal a mix of familiar favorites in the States along with international escapes. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026 Rather than send the grieving widows back to the States, the head honchos decide to turn them into spies. David Faris, TheWeek, 13 Jan. 2026 Heaps then came back to the States in 2016 in part to prepare for the Olympics and 2019 World Cup. Emily Olsen, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“The States.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20States. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

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