noun
Uncommon
stead
stehd
Stead (noun) means the place or role of someone or something, especially when taken over by a replacement, as in "in his stead.". Example: “When the manager fell ill, her assistant took over in her stead.”
noun
1
The place or role of someone or something, especially when taken over by a replacement, as in "in his stead."
"When the manager fell ill, her assistant took over in her stead."
"A new bridge was built in the stead of the old wooden one."
verb
1
To be of use or help to someone, as in "stand someone in good stead."
"His years of training stood him in good stead during the final match."
How to use stead
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMostly survives today in set phrases — "in someone's stead" (in their place) and "stand in good stead" (prove useful later).
When to use it
Fairly formal or literary outside of these fixed phrases.
Common pairings
in his stead
stand someone in good stead
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Word forms
- Plural
- steads
- Third person singular
- steads
- Past tense
- steaded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
When the manager fell ill, her assistant took over in her _____.
Etymology
From Old English stede, "place, position," from a Germanic root also seen in "steady" and "instead."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for stead
See all rhymes for stead →Frequently asked questions
What does “stead” mean?
The word “stead” means the place or role of someone or something, especially when taken over by a replacement, as in "in his stead.". In plain terms, mostly survives today in set phrases — "in someone's stead" (in their place) and "stand in good stead" (prove useful later).
How do you pronounce “stead”?
“Stead” is pronounced stehd (/stɛd/ in IPA).
How do you use “stead” in a sentence?
Here is “stead” used in a sentence: “When the manager fell ill, her assistant took over in her stead.”
What part of speech is “stead”?
Depending on how it is used, “stead” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “stead” come from?
The word “stead” comes from Old English. From Old English stede, "place, position," from a Germanic root also seen in "steady" and "instead.".
Is “stead” a common word?
“Stead” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “stead” have?
“Stead” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the place or role of someone or something, especially when taken over by a replacement, as in "in his stead.".
