stead

1 of 2

noun

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
3
obsolete : locality, place

stead

2 of 2

verb

steaded; steading; steads

transitive verb

: to be of avail to : help

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
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.
Noun
The Jets recalled former first-rounder Brad Lambert in his stead on Tuesday after retroactively placing the Dane on injured reserve. Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 17 Dec. 2024 Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is serving as interim leader in Yoon’s stead. Jason Ma, Fortune Asia, 16 Dec. 2024 In its stead came (loud) doubts, with Birdman, Master P, Nicki Minaj, and others openly questioning the snub of hometown hero Lil Wayne. Matthew Ismael Ruiz, Vulture, 25 Nov. 2024 On Thursday, Birgitte, who is a full-time working royal and married to Queen Elizabeth's first cousin Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, will be there in her stead. Janine Henni, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stead 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of stead was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near stead

Cite this Entry

“Stead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stead. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on stead

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