state
C1Neutral - appropriate in all registers from formal to informal.
Definition
Meaning
The particular condition or form that someone or something is in at a specific time.
A nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government; also, to formally express something in speech or writing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun form is polysemous, referring to condition (emotional/mental), political entity, or official ceremony. The verb means to express clearly and formally. The countable noun 'states' refers to sub-national regions (US, Australia) or the bodies of government in a nation-state.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a political noun, 'the State' (capitalised) in the US strongly connotes the federal government. In the UK, it more commonly refers to the government/public sector generally (e.g., 'state school', 'working for the state'). 'State' as a sub-national unit is a primary US meaning (e.g., California). The verb 'to state' is equally common.
Connotations
In UK English, 'state' (adj.) can have a negative, bureaucratic connotation (e.g., 'state-run', 'state-owned'). In US English, 'State' (as in the federal government) carries more formal, authoritative weight.
Frequency
The sub-national unit meaning is vastly more frequent in American English due to its political structure.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
state that + clausestate your intention to + infinitivestate + direct objectstate + to + personin a state of + nounVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “state of the art”
- “in a right state (UK)”
- “lie in state”
- “state of play”
- “state of affairs”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The company's financial state is strong." (condition) "Please state your business." (verb)
Academic
"The paper will state its thesis in the introduction." (verb) "It is a welfare state." (political entity)
Everyday
"You look like you're in a bit of a state!" (UK: agitated condition) "What state do you live in?" (US: sub-national region)
Technical
"The machine has three possible states: idle, active, or error." (computing/engineering)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The witness must state the facts clearly for the court.
- The manual states you should not open the casing.
- I state my objections for the record.
- Please state your full name and address.
American English
- The law clearly states your rights.
- The report stated the findings without bias.
- She stated her intention to run for office.
- You must state your purpose for visiting.
adverb
British English
- (No common adverbial form. 'Stately' is a separate adjective.)
American English
- (No common adverbial form. 'Stately' is a separate adjective.)
adjective
British English
- It was a state school with a good reputation.
- The state pension age is rising.
- They attended a formal state dinner.
- The state-owned railway is undergoing upgrades.
American English
- It's a state university, not a private one.
- He works for the State Department.
- We follow state regulations here.
- They received a state grant for the project.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She was in a happy state.
- Texas is a big state in America.
- The room was in a messy state.
- Please state your opinion on the matter.
- The government declared a state of emergency after the storm.
- What is the current state of the project?
- The peace talks have reached a critical state.
- He stated categorically that he was innocent.
- The device can exist in one of three possible states.
- The author's prose captures the human state of existential anxiety.
- The treaty was signed by representatives of the member states.
- One must distinguish between the nation-state and civil society.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a STATUE (sounds like 'state') of a leader. It represents the formal, official STATE of a nation, and the leader might STATE a proclamation from its base.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONDITIONS ARE LOCATIONS (in a state of confusion), NATIONS ARE PERSONS (the state provides for its citizens), EXPRESSING IS PUTTING FORTH (to state an opinion).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить 'state' (condition) всегда как 'состояние'. В политическом смысле это 'государство'.
- Глагол 'to state' означает не просто 'говорить', а 'заявлять, излагать чётко и официально'.
- Американское 'state' (штат) часто требует пояснения для русских, у которых нет прямого аналога.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'state' as a verb without a formal/official context (e.g., 'He stated that he likes pizza' is overly formal).
- Confusing 'state' (condition) with 'country' (political entity) based on context.
- Incorrect article use: 'He is in state of shock' (missing 'a') vs. 'He is in a state of shock'.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'state' used as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Country' is geographical/political. 'Nation' emphasizes a group of people with shared identity. 'State' emphasizes the political/ governing institutions and sovereignty (e.g., 'The state collects taxes').
It is grammatically correct but sounds very formal or legalistic. In everyday speech, 'say', 'mention', or 'tell' are more natural (e.g., 'I said that...').
Here, 'state' means 'condition' or 'level of development'. 'State of the art' means the most advanced or latest stage of development.
Because the USA is a federal republic divided into 50 semi-autonomous political units called 'states'. It's a primary way of identifying location within the country.