states 1 of 2

Definition of statesnext
plural of state

states

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of state
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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of states
Noun
Child-care fraud in Minnesota is one of many examples, and Minnesota is only one of many states with lax control of welfare spending. Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026 In some states, Powerball tickets can be bought online depending on local jurisdiction. Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026 In the years since school libraries became a culture-war flashpoint, Texas has been one of the most active states to pull books from shelves in response to parental complaints — sometimes including versions of Anne Frank’s diary and other Jewish books. Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026 Organizers are also challenging students in other cities and states to mobilize on the same day. Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026 Thirty-six states have laws requesting or requiring voters to show some form of ID at the polls, according to a 2025 report from the National Conference of State Legislatures. Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 16 Feb. 2026 Several other deals in states like New York are said to be forthcoming. Brian Niemietz, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026 The PhD student, originally from Turkey and on a valid F-1 student visa, was shuttled through multiple states following her arrest and suffered a series of asthma attacks without adequate medical care, according to her attorneys. Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026 The results reveal the country’s luckiest states, cities, stores and lottery retailers in that span. Scott Butler, Florida Times-Union, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
The report states that Jackson -- who is listed as a DoorDash driver in the report -- was identified as the driver and only occupant of a car involved in a road rage incident on Interstate 630 in which a gun was displayed and pointed at the driver of another vehicle. arkansasonline.com, 17 Feb. 2026 The policy also states that juvenile groups of four or more will be dispersed. Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 17 Feb. 2026 The girl told police that one day Montesguedez grabbed the girl and kissed her against her will, the report states. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026 Ultimately, the report states, fewer than 1% of the district’s more than 83,000 employees are likely to be at risk of losing a job entirely. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026 The bill states that local governments may adopt resolutions authorizing the licensure of massage facilities. Christa Swanson, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026 In technical analysis, the Polarity Principle states that prior resistance, once overcome, turns to support; and vice versa, prior support, once broken, becomes resistance. Zev Fima, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026 The Florida Lottery site states game add-ons include Double Play for $1, a bonus drawing where players could win up to $250,000 using the same numbers (Double Play drawings are held immediately after Florida Lotto drawings). Jennifer Sangalang, Florida Times-Union, 15 Feb. 2026 His campaign website states another goal is to bring jobs in the IT, agriculture-technology and clean energy sector to his district. William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for states
Noun
  • Policymakers globally are increasingly worried that the unequal adoption of AI risks widening income and development gaps between rich and poor countries.
    Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Permanent-residency applications from more than seventy countries have been frozen, naturalization ceremonies cancelled.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Trump says Herschel Walker is 'loyal' The crowd was filled with allies and friends of the president, including Herschel Walker, a former University of Georgia football star who ran for Congress in 2020.
    Irene Wright, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Transfers have been cancelled if, as Foster says, a player’s character is judged not to be a good fit.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The look tells us where style might go next – a more nuanced conversation.
    Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Earlier in the show, Chioma tells Choe how British Vogue’s Gisele Pelicot digital cover story came to be.
    Chelsea Daniel, Vogue, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Curry, who serves as a producer on the film, also voices one of Will’s teammates, a giraffe named Lenny.
    Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Angel Reese voices a polar bear who plays for the Shivers.
    Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • As more than 10 nations in Europe are participating in the F-35 program, this raises concerns related to Trump’s tariff-heavy diplomacy.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 17 Feb. 2026
  • The sweeping tariff drawdown makes way for individual nations to negotiate bilateral agreements for economic partnership and development, which will further expand market access, Xi said in his statement.
    Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Drawing the audience in with just his pleading voice and vulnerable physicality, Duvall expresses a lifetime of regrets.
    Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Novels that seemingly share a repetitive style or subject can have a beating heart that expresses the writer’s most passionate concerns.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The phrase also sometimes is used as a battle cry and has been employed by those with a nefarious agenda to instill fear of anyone who utters it and to raise concerns about Islam itself, according to Muslim scholars and civil rights advocates.
    Michelle Krupa, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Falduto utters the words as his character Billy to Dewey, playing the opinionated student who becomes the stylist for the band.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • The bill also gives the legal right to anyone who is harmed by such material to seek a remedy and bring an action against the entity that distributed the material.
    Mohamed Suliman, Boston Herald, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Health Benefits of Turmeric Latte The primary compound in turmeric, curcumin, gives turmeric lattes their bright yellow color.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 16 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“States.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/states. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

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