stead

1 of 2

noun

ˈsted 

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

Synonyms

Noun

• advantage
• better
• bulge
• catbird seat
• drop
• edge
• high ground
• inside track
• jump
• pull
• upper hand
• vantage
• whip hand

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

Noun

Following his arrest, his wife ran in his stead, rallying large crowds across the country. —Arkansas Online, 22 June 2025

In their stead, three new figures have already arrived: chief executive Angus Kinnear, head of trading Nick Hammond and strategy lead Chris Howarth. —Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 18 June 2025

Drew Waters, Nick Loftin and John Rave have arrived in their stead. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 15 June 2025

After the Trump administration dismissed hundreds of authors working on the next National Climate Assessment, two science societies announced an effort to publish a special collection of climate change research in its stead. —Evan Bush, NBC news, 2 May 2025

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

Phrases Containing stead

• in someone's/something's stead
• stand someone/something in good stead

Rhymes for stead

• bed
• bled
• bread
• bred
• dead
• dread
• ed
• fed
• fled
• ged
• head
• lead

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