stately

adjective

state·​ly ˈstāt-lē 

statelier; stateliest

1

a

: marked by lofty or imposing dignity

b

: haughty, unapproachable

2

: impressive in size or proportions

stateliness noun

stately adverb

Synonyms

• august
• dignified
• distingué
• distinguished
• imposing
• portly
• solemn
• staid

Choose the Right Synonym for stately

grand, magnificent, imposing, stately, majestic, grandiose mean large and impressive.

grand adds to greatness of size the implications of handsomeness and dignity.

a grand staircase

magnificent implies an impressive largeness proportionate to scale without sacrifice of dignity or good taste.

magnificent paintings

imposing implies great size and dignity but especially stresses impressiveness.

an imposing edifice

stately may suggest poised dignity, erectness of bearing, handsomeness of proportions, ceremonious deliberation of movement.

the stately procession

majestic combines the implications of imposing and stately and usually adds a suggestion of solemn grandeur.

a majestic waterfall

grandiose implies a size or scope exceeding ordinary experience

grandiose hydroelectric projects

but is most commonly applied derogatorily to inflated pretension or absurd exaggeration.

grandiose schemes

Examples of stately in a Sentence

the governor watched with stately aloofness as his wife charmed the party guests

a stately dowager in an evening gown

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s been barely three years since Kate Mara and Jamie Bell doled out $4.8 million for a Los Angeles home in the leafy foothills of Los Feliz, and the Hollywood couple has already decided to hand over the keys to their stately Southern Colonial-style digs, asking a speck under $5 million. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2025

An Italian architect and Parisian decorator came together to create a stately escape in the heart of the metropolis. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2025

Dragon continued its stately descent, falling to 400 meters, then 300, and then 200 above the ocean. —Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 18 Mar. 2025

Desperate to interest the teen-aged mistress in stately old Victorian-era architecture. —Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing stately

• stately home

Rhymes for stately

• innately
• ornately
• pinnately
• sedately
• greatly
• lately
• precipitately

Kids Definition

stately

adjective

state·​ly ˈstāt-lē 

statelier; stateliest

: impressively grand in appearance, manner, or size

stateliness noun