Word family noun statement understatement ≠ overstatement adjective understated ≠ overstated verb state understate ≠ overstate
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstatestate1 /steɪt/ ●●● S1 W2 noun 1 condition [countable]CONDITION/STATE OF something the physical or mental condition that someone or something is instate of There are fears for the state of the country’s economy.in a bad/terrible etc state When we bought the house, it was in a terrible state.somebody’s mental/physical/emotional state Frankly, I wouldn’t trust his emotional state right now. She was in an extremely confused state of mind.in no fit state to do something (=should not do something because you are not in a suitable condition) David’s in no fit state to drive. She can’t go home now. Look at the state of her!be in a good/bad state of repair (=be in good condition and not need repairing, or be in bad condition) The boat was in a good state of repair. The country was in a state of war (=officially fighting a war). Water exists in three states: liquid, gaseous, and solid. → state of emergency2 government [singular, uncountable] (also the State) especially British EnglishPGPUBLIC/GOVERNMENT the government or political organization of a country The state has allocated special funds for the emergency.state employees/property/regulations etc limits on salary increases for state workersstate-owned/state-funded/state-subsidized etc (=owned, paid for etc by the government) a state-funded community housing projectmatters/affairs of state (=the business of the government) → welfare state3 country [countable]PGCOUNTRY/NATION a country considered as a political organization a NATO member state (=a country belonging to NATO)democratic/one-party/totalitarian etc state → police state► see thesaurus at country4 part of a country [countable] (also State British English)PGCOUNTRY/NATION one of the areas with limited law-making powers that together make up a country controlled by a central government, such as the US and Australia → province, county, region Queensland is one of the states of Australia. the state of Iowastate employees/property/regulations etc the state government state and federal taxes5 → the States6 → be in a state/get into a state7 official ceremony [uncountable]PGPUBLIC/GOVERNMENT the official ceremonies and events connected with government or rulers the Queen’s first state visit here in 17 years music for state occasions (=special public events)8 → state of affairs9 → the state of play10 → lie in stateCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: the physical or mental condition that someone or something is inadjectivesa bad state (also a poor/sorry state)The report commented on the poor state of the roads.a terrible stateHis apartment was in a terrible state.a healthy state (=a good state)Student numbers at the college are in a healthy state.somebody’s mental/emotional stateWhenever Ben stops his medication, his mental state deteriorates.somebody’s physical stateOur emotions can have an effect on our physical state.something’s natural stateThere's a plan to return large areas of farmland to their natural state.something’s present/current stateWe can deduce how the planet evolved from its beginnings to its present state.a constant/permanent/perpetual state of somethingThey lived in a constant state of fear.an advanced state of somethingThe dead bird was in an advanced state of decay.phrasessomebody’s state of mindWhat was his state of mind at the time of the attack?somebody’s state of healthThe doctor said my general state of health was good.something’s state of repair/preservationSchool buildings should be kept in a good state of repair.a state of shock/confusion/panic etcHoward, still in a state of shock, stared at Newman.a state of collapse (=the state of being very ill or weak)The economy was in a state of collapse.a state of warSyria was still in a state of war with Israel.the present/current state of knowledgeThat is the best advice we can offer, given our current state of knowledge about the disease. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 3: a country considered as a political organizationADJECTIVES/NOUN + statean independent state (also a sovereign state formal)Croatia became an independent state in 1991.a democratic stateThey wanted to transform the country into a modern democratic state.a totalitarian state (=where there is no democracy)Politicians get away with this sort of behaviour only in totalitarian states.a one-party stateUntil recently, the country was a one-party state.a communist/socialist stateThe former communist states began opening up their markets to foreign investment.a fascist stateFreedom of speech is not tolerated in a fascist state. a police state (=where the government strictly controls what people can say or do)Too many laws bring us frighteningly close to the creation of a police state.a member state (=a country that belongs to an organization of countries)The statement said that NATO would counter any attack against a member state. Examples from the Corpus
state• Given the general state of his health, it may take him a while to recover from the operation.• In 1830, Greece became an independent state.• When the gas cools, it condenses back to its liquid state.• the member states of the European Union• For more than 70 years, the former Soviet Union was a one-party state.• It also emphasises the need for continuing professional development of science teachers and the poor state of labs and equipment.• Most of the country's existing schools are in a sorry state of disrepair.• To many who have followed Fokker over the years, its most recent cash-strapped state was nothing new.• When I got back home, I was horrified to see what a terrible state the kitchen was in.• Every activity of the individual citizen is subject to scrutiny by the state, in the name of the public interest.• One of the things people complain of most is the state of the sidewalks.• It is the duty of the state to pass laws for the common good.• The possibility of equity financing depends on the state of the equity market.• Many local officials are still unaware that the state has granted them the powers to set boating laws for their local waters.• The state of Israel was created in 1948.• The Sassanians expanded eastwards to incorporate into their state the northern part of the disintegrating Kushan empire.• After 1951 Winston Churchill and his Conservative successors protected the welfare state, maintained full employment, and conciliated the trade unions.state of• We were in a state of shock when they told us how much it would cost.state employees/property/regulations etc• The protest was held in opposition to government plans to dismiss 25,000 state employees in order to reduce fiscal spending by 42 percent.• Instead, a central fund for state property will be set up to sell large and medium-sized companies.• On Tuesday, Kansas became the first state to furlough state employees, paid through federal grants, who process unemployment claims.• And new state regulations restrict some of the most odious insurance practices.• Jody is not interested in hearing about loyalty or state regulations.• Kirichenko warned that continued default by the republics would result in salaries to state employees and social security being curtailed.• Most of the early strikers were state employees.democratic/one-party/totalitarian etc state• The 1949 Constitution established Costa Rica as a democratic state with an executive President directly elected for a four-year term.• Nkrumah announced another referendum to enable him to dismiss the judges and also to establish a one-party state.• The Republic, which retains membership of the Commonwealth, is a one-party state with an executive President.• The subsequent establishment of a one-party state would have achieved the same result.• It recently opposed government moves towards the legal formation of a one-party state.• Not the least power of a totalitarian state is the power to bore the people out of their right minds.• These features make elite theory central in arguments about the liberal democratic state.• The one-party state must give way.state employees/property/regulations etc• The protest was held in opposition to government plans to dismiss 25,000 state employees in order to reduce fiscal spending by 42 percent.• Instead, a central fund for state property will be set up to sell large and medium-sized companies.• On Tuesday, Kansas became the first state to furlough state employees, paid through federal grants, who process unemployment claims.• And new state regulations restrict some of the most odious insurance practices.• Jody is not interested in hearing about loyalty or state regulations.• Kirichenko warned that continued default by the republics would result in salaries to state employees and social security being curtailed.• Most of the early strikers were state employees.state visit• Of course, the staff at the Poly could only be flattered to take part in a state visit.• Sadat had ordered photographs of the Shah, left over from an earlier state visit, to be mounted along the route.• This week was her first state visit here in 17 years.• The Queen will visit Texas as part of her official state visit.• That's the official state visit.• She explained that she wore furs and her jewelry only when she traveled abroad with her husband on state visits.statestate2 ●●○ S3 W2 verb [transitive] 1 SAY/STATEto formally say or write a piece of information or your opinion Please state your name and address. Rembert again stated his intention to resign from Parliament. The government needs to clearly state its policy on UN intervention.state (that) The witness stated that he had not seen the woman before. Fine, but aren’t you just stating the obvious here?► see thesaurus at say2 SAY/STATEif a document, newspaper, ticket etc states information, it contains the information written clearly The price of the tickets is stated on the back.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
state• The permit, which is free, also has an information sheet which states 11 separate conditions concerning the use of skips.• It is given only as an example which is easy to state.• Justice Cohen stated clearly that no further action would be taken.• This effect need not be stated in terms.• The essay begins by stating its main point: that the title focuses attention on a multifunctional symbol within the story.• The government needs to clearly state its policy on possible military action.• The parallels are stated, not reasoned.• The receipt clearly states that refunds are not allowed.• The law states that you are innocent until proved guilty.• Please state your full name for the record.state (that)• Part of that has to do with the change in secretaries of state.• Constitutionally, the prime minister may assume the functions of the head of state for two weeks.• At what point does a state have a motive for keeping the smoking rolls up?• You should see the state of the bedroom.• There was a clear link with past practices of fitting the ideology to the needs of the state rather than its constituent members.• The changes in the state sector before the 1980s have occurred in a relatively piecemeal fashion.• It states that a substance causing certain symptoms in a healthy person can cure a sick person with the same symptoms.• The president has stated that the new law requires several improvements.• The state with which we are most concerned is the quiet alert state.From Longman Business Dictionarystatestate /steɪt/ noun1[countable usually singular] the condition that someone or something is in at a particular timeThe property market is in a poor state.I think the economy is in a worse state than the Government has been admitting.2[countable] (also State)LAW one of the areas with limited law-making powers that some countries, such as the US, are divided intoNew York State has attracted more foreign companies than any other state.The bank now sells life insurance policies in 380 branches across four states.3[countable, uncountable] (also State) a country or its governmentstate industriesThe government plans to sell off several state companies.the state monopoly of radio and television broadcasting4the States [plural] the United States of AmericaSales of U.S. cars have not boomed (=increased) in the States as carmakers had hoped.Origin state1 (1100-1200) Old French estat, from Latin status, from the past participle of stare “to stand” 