the place, function, or position that should be taken by another
to come in someone's stead
2. stand someone in good stead
verb
3. (transitive) archaic
to help or benefit
Word origin
Old English stede; related to Old Norse stathr place, Old High German stat place, Latin statiō a standing, statim immediately
Stead in British English
(stɛd)
noun
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)
stead in American English
(stɛd)
noun
1.
the place or position of a person or thing as filled by a replacement, substitute, or successor
to send another in one's stead
2.
advantage, service, or avail
now only in stand someone in good stead, to give someone good use, service, or advantage
3. Obsolete
a place, site, or locality
verb transitive
4. Archaic
to be of advantage, service, or avail to
Word origin
ME stede < OE, akin to Ger statt, a place, stadt, town < IE base *stā-, to stand
Examples of 'stead' in a sentence
stead
These qualities should stand them in good stead.
The Sun (2010)
This dose of realism stands her in great stead for a slim and healthy future.
The Sun (2014)
That will stand us in good stead for the rest of the season.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This will stand you in good stead for future employment opportunities.
The Sun (2011)
The vocational nature of most courses stands students in good stead when it comes to getting jobs.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
That jazz grounding he acquired in his youth has stood him in good stead.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The publishing education she provided stood him in great stead.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Learn important lessons from this that will stand you in good stead the rest of your life.
The Sun (2006)
That will only stand us in good stead for the future.
The Sun (2014)
It stands you in brilliant stead when it comes to the bigger game.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
His practical skills would stand him in good stead when he began to make violins.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But victories such as this will hold him in great stead.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
His experience gained in respiratory medicine stood him in good stead for the rest of his career.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It will stand me in good stead for the future.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In their stead comes a dash of science.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
If we can perform individually it will stand us in good stead for the future.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Both horses have shown their form on attritional ground and that seems certain to stand them in good stead.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We have a good depth in the squad and that will stand us in good stead for the rest of the season.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
That's stood us in good stead.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Once mastered, meditation will stand you in good stead for the rest of your life.
Wilkinson, Steve M.E. and You - a self-help plan (1988)
I'm hoping that my lifestyle will stand me in good stead when it comes to my fertility.
The Sun (2013)
Am I giving up on establishing a standard of excellence that will serve him in good stead all his life?
Christianity Today (2000)
Coping with that will stand him in good stead for a life in the Premier League goldfish bowl.
The Sun (2010)
A large part of county cricket is about producing England players, and this would hold him in great stead.