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

Wavy synthetic strips are fused onto the mesh in its stead to not give up on lockdown entirely but still allowing greater flexibility and better encouraging transitions. —Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 29 Jan. 2026

That advantage should stand Michael Carrick’s top-four bid in good stead in the remainder of the season. —James McNicholas, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026

Consequently, his oldest son, George, ruled in his stead as the Prince Regent. —Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026

In his stead, San Diego’s Prebys Foundation hired its own urban planning firm, U3 Advisors, to create a vision for the blocks, teamed with the Downtown San Diego Partnership to help facilitate the work and began conversations with the college district. —Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Jan. 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