stead
Pluralsteads (some meanings)
Pluralsteads (some meanings)
Formssteads, steading, steaded
- 1The place or role of one person or thing when another takes it over.
My dad couldn't come, so my uncle went in his stead.
The old tree fell, and a young one was planted in its stead.
UsageSay in his stead or in its stead. In everyday speech, say instead or instead of him.
Similarplace
- 2The position or situation someone is in. To stand someone in good stead means to be useful to them later.
Learning to type will stand you in good stead at work.
Her summer job put her in good stead for college.
- 3A farm or home with the land around it.
Only when he reached the stead road, and Wildebeast, did he concentrate on the image of carrion, of food for the sandwolf pack.
2010, L. E. Modesitt, Jr.Here, stead means a farm or homestead, so the stead road leads there.Nordic types may turn to Frigga as queen mother of Asgard, or even to good friend Thor, known to gladly bless a new stead and to party with the best.
2008, Bronwynn Forrest Torgerson, One Witch's WayNote
Less common meanings
- 4A place or spot.
The three Princes ceased not travelling together for seven days, at the end of which time one said to other, "Let us separate and let each make search in a different stead, so haply shall we hit upon our need."
1885, Sir Richard Burton, The Book of the Thousand Nights and a NightHere, stead means place, so each searches in a different place.Note
- 5To help someone or be useful to them.
May you stead me? will you pleasure me? shall I know your answer?
c. 1596, William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”Here, stead means help or be of use to me.Note
- 6Your boyfriend or girlfriend.
He wants to be her stead, but she only sees him as a friend.
My stead is taking me out for dinner on my birthday.
UsagePeople say be my stead.
Similarpartner, boyfriend, girlfriend
Note
- 7To take the place of something.
- 8A place where people live, like a village or town.
- 9The frame that holds a bed.
The genial bed / Sallow the feet, the borders, and the stead.
1693, John Dryden, Baucis and PhilemonHere, stead means the bed frame that holds up the bed.Note
- 10The seat or place where a person usually sits or rests.
There now the hart, fearlesse of greyhound, feeds, / And loving pelican in safety breeds; / There shrieking satyres fill the people's emptie steads.
1633, P. Fletcher, Purple IslandHere, steads means seats, the places where people used to sit.Note
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
It comes from the Old English word stede, meaning “place”.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Stead derives from Old English stede, meaning place. en.wiktionary.org
It is a short form of steady.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Stead is a short form of steady. en.wiktionary.org