Stead

Meaning

(of a person or thing) The position or function (of someone or something), as taken on by a successor..

Definitions by Sense

1. (of a person or thing) The position or function (of someone or something), as taken on by a successor.
2. (figurative) A place as it relates to a role, service, or ability; capacity.
3. (figurative, uncountable) A relational or circumstantial position; standing.
4. (figurative, countable) A place as it relates to situation, circumstance, or status; condition.
5. (archaic or literary) A place, or spot, in general; location.
6. (obsolete) A place where a person normally rests; a seat.
7. (obsolete) An inhabited place; a settlement, city, town etc.
8. (archaic) An estate, a property with its grounds; a farm; a homestead.

Example Sentences

She was so wretched and so vehement, complained so much of injustice in being expected to go away instead of Anne; Anne, who was nothing to Louisa, while she was her sister, and had the best right to stay in Henrietta's stead!

His nurse had told him all about changelings, and how the little people would always try to steal a beautiful human child out of its cradle and put in its stead one of their own ailing, puking brats […]

Had Daniel Ortega not got himself illegally on to this year’s ballot to seek a third term, his wife might have run in his stead.

One may not expect to entirely stop the oncoming energy but the outgoing stands in a different stead, for in this a certain amount of ruling is possible by the native.

For instance, those who operate under generally available terms and conditions or whose interconnection agreements do not confer a contractual right to the BOC performance they seek under section 271 may stand in a different stead than those who have pursued claims that a BOC has failed to perform as required by agreement.

He had intended to create diamonds with his experiments, but the accidental discovery of such amazingly explosive chemical reactions served him in a different stead.

Though small and delicate-looking, she gave an impression of intense earnestness and latent toughness, qualities that stood her in good stead when she dared to challenge the most intrusive communist society in eastern Europe.

Anthropology in India started in a different stead than what was the situation of its emergence in other countries.

Word Forms

• steads
• steading
• steaded

Synonyms for stead

Related Words

When Should You Use Stead?

Use stead when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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