often attributive
1
a
: mode or condition of being
a state of readiness
b(1)
: condition of mind or temperament
in a highly nervous state
(2)
: a condition of abnormal tension or excitement
2
a
: a condition or stage in the physical being of something
insects in the larval state
the gaseous state of water
b
: any of various conditions characterized by definite quantities (as of energy, angular momentum, or magnetic moment) in which an atomic system may exist
3
a
: social position
especially
: high rank
b(1)
: elaborate or luxurious style of living
(2)
: formal dignity : pomp
—usually used with in
4
a
: a body of persons constituting a special class in a society : estate sense 3
b
states plural
: the members or representatives of the governing classes assembled in a legislative body
c
obsolete
: a person of high rank (as a noble)
5
a
: a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory
especially
: one that is sovereign
b
: the political organization of such a body of people
c
: a government or politically organized society having a particular character
a police state
the welfare state
6
: the operations or concerns of the government of a country
7
a
: one of the constituent units of a nation having a federal government
the fifty states
b
States plural
: The United States of America
8
: the territory of a state
stated; stating
1
: to set by regulation or authority
2
: to express the particulars of especially in words : report
broadly
: to express in words
Synonyms
Examples of state in a Sentence
Noun
Happiness is the state or condition of being happy.
We must keep our armed forces in a constant state of readiness.
She meditates to achieve a higher state of being.
The building is in such a sorry state that it's hardly worth fixing.
water in a gaseous state
the solid and liquid states
the member states of the United Nations Security Council
Verb
The lawyer will state the facts of the case.
He stated his name in full.
I was merely stating an opinion.
“This is a difficult situation,” he stated simply.
Please state the purpose of your visit.
I'd like to state for the record that I disagree with the board's decision.
For the reasons stated above, I hereby withdraw from the competition.
The rules clearly state that you can only draw one card.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Courier-Journal, 10 Apr. 2024
Selecting a vice presidential candidate is a key part of the process of making the ballot in many states.
—Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Last month, the IRS and Treasury Department partnered on the launch the Direct File Pilot Program, which provides an option for taxpayers in 12 states to file basic income tax returns directly with the IRS rather than through an alternative online service.
—Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
Banning kids from accessing social media—as many U.S. states have legislated to do—is one thing, as is controlling usage within the school environment.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Every aspect of American hegemony—politics, culture, scholarship, the security state—shares the same face.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
Cultivating a culture of trust requires leaders to recognize and relate to the emotional states among their teams.
—Dr. Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
As tension bubbled, Zelaya armed himself with Corona beer bottles, the reports state.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024
Oh Joon, former South Korean ambassador to the United Nations, said in an interview that even though the panel is being dissolved, each member state will still be able to report violations to the Security Council because the U.N. sanctions remain in effect.
—Min Joo Kim, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
The ruling stated in no uncertain terms that Musk and X were trying to punish the CCDH for exercising First Amendment rights.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024
The paper states that such stock price fragility has a negative impact on capital expenditures, R&D, repurchases, and short-term debt.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Instead, the brief stated that the district court should reconsider the economic impacts and arbitration between the U.S. and Canada over the treaty.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
Democrats who have long championed civil liberties, like Sen. Ron Wyden, have aligned with Republican supporters of Trump, who in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday stated incorrectly that Section 702 had been used to spy on his presidential campaign.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2024
While the rising heat is usually concentrated across plain and coastal regions which are more vulnerable to its impact, experts note that hilly states in the south aren’t immune to higher temperatures, either.
—Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
The Hispanic student to faculty gap has remained significantly low for the past 20 years, the audit stated.
—Emma Hall, Sacramento Bee, 10 Apr. 2024
For the record: Yesterday’s newsletter stated that Allstate stopped offering new property policies in California following State Farm’s June 2023 announcement.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
Noun
This year, Broods XIX and XIII will appear in 17 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Virginia.
—The Courier-Journal, 10 Apr. 2024
Selecting a vice presidential candidate is a key part of the process of making the ballot in many states.
—Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Last month, the IRS and Treasury Department partnered on the launch the Direct File Pilot Program, which provides an option for taxpayers in 12 states to file basic income tax returns directly with the IRS rather than through an alternative online service.
—Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
Banning kids from accessing social media—as many U.S. states have legislated to do—is one thing, as is controlling usage within the school environment.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Every aspect of American hegemony—politics, culture, scholarship, the security state—shares the same face.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
Cultivating a culture of trust requires leaders to recognize and relate to the emotional states among their teams.
—Dr. Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
As tension bubbled, Zelaya armed himself with Corona beer bottles, the reports state.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024
Oh Joon, former South Korean ambassador to the United Nations, said in an interview that even though the panel is being dissolved, each member state will still be able to report violations to the Security Council because the U.N. sanctions remain in effect.
—Min Joo Kim, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
Judge Agne agreed and stated in her ruling that the team and stadium would likely succeed if the case continued in court.
—Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
The ruling stated in no uncertain terms that Musk and X were trying to punish the CCDH for exercising First Amendment rights.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2024
The paper states that such stock price fragility has a negative impact on capital expenditures, R&D, repurchases, and short-term debt.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Instead, the brief stated that the district court should reconsider the economic impacts and arbitration between the U.S. and Canada over the treaty.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
Democrats who have long championed civil liberties, like Sen. Ron Wyden, have aligned with Republican supporters of Trump, who in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday stated incorrectly that Section 702 had been used to spy on his presidential campaign.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2024
While the rising heat is usually concentrated across plain and coastal regions which are more vulnerable to its impact, experts note that hilly states in the south aren’t immune to higher temperatures, either.
—Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
The Hispanic student to faculty gap has remained significantly low for the past 20 years, the audit stated.
—Emma Hall, Sacramento Bee, 10 Apr. 2024
For the record: Yesterday’s newsletter stated that Allstate stopped offering new property policies in California following State Farm’s June 2023 announcement.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'state.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English stat, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French estat, from Latin status, from stare to stand — more at stand
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of state was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing state
Dictionary Entries Near state
Cite this Entry
“State.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/state. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
state
1 of 3 noun1
a
: manner or condition of being
a state of readiness
b
: condition of mind or disposition
in a highly nervous state
2
a
: a condition or stage of the physical makeup of something
water in the gaseous state
b
: a stage in the growth or development of a plant or animal
the larval state
3
a
: a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory
b
: the political organization of such a body of people
4
: one of the units of a nation having a federal government
the United States of America
5
: the territory of a state
stateless
adjective
-ləs
state
2 of 3 adjective1
: suitable or used for ceremonies or official occasions
state robes
2
: of or relating to a national state or to one state of a federal government
a state church
a state legislature
3
: of or relating to the government : governmental
state secrets
state
3 of 3 verb
stated; stating
1
: to set by regulation or authority
the law stated times for inspection
2
: to express in words
state an opinion
Medical Definition
state
noun
: mode or condition of being: as
a
: condition of mind or temperament
a manic state
b
: a condition or stage in the physical being of something
the gaseous state of water
Legal Definition
state
nounoften attributive
1
a
: a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory
especially
: one that is sovereign
b
: the political organization that has supreme civil authority and political power and serves as the basis of government see also compelling state interest at interest sense 3a, separation of church and state
c
: a government or politically organized society having a particular character
a police state
2
: the operations or concerns of the government of a country : the sphere of administration and supreme political power of a country (as in international relations)
secrets of state
affairs of state
3
a
: one of the constituent units of a nation having a federal government
specifically
: one of the fifty such units comprising the great part of the U.S. see also state law
b
: the territory of a state
More from Merriam-Webster on state
Nglish: Translation of state for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of state for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about state
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