stead

American  

[sted] / stɛd /

noun

1. the place of a person or thing as occupied by a successor or substitute.

   The nephew of the queen came in her stead.

2. Obsolete. a place or locality.

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verb (used with object)

1. to be of service, advantage, or avail to.

idioms

1. stand in good stead, to be useful to, especially in a critical situation.

   Your experience will stand you in good stead.

stead ¹ British  

/ stɛd /

noun

1. rare (preceded by in) the place, function, or position that should be taken by another

   to come in someone's stead

2. to be useful or of good service to (someone)

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verb

1. archaic (tr) to help or benefit

Stead ² British  

/ stɛd /

noun

1. Christina ( Ellen ). 1902–83, Australian novelist. Her works include Seven Poor Men of Sydney (1934), The Man who Loved Children (1940), and Cotters' England (1966)

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stead More Idioms  

1. see in someone's shoes (stead); stand in good stead. Also see under instead.

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Etymology

Origin of stead

before 900; (noun) Middle English, Old English stede; cognate with German Stätte place; akin to German Stadt, Old Norse stathr, Gothic staths, Greek stásis ( stasis ); (v.) Middle English steden, derivative of the noun

Example Sentences

My parents sent the money to a friend in Argentina to start the business in their stead while they tied up loose ends in the States.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Another man shouted on the phone, exhorting a family member to leave and that he would go in and take his stead.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

Some of them were dead, and their families answered the questionnaires about past glyphosate exposure in their stead.

From Slate • Mar. 5, 2026

"I, despite not being a councillor, have continued to do lots of work within the area and I think that stood me in very good stead," Barnes said.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

Mere boys ruled in their stead, and the realm that Aegon the Conqueror had forged was smashed and sundered.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin