stead

¹stead

noun \ˈsted\

Definition of STEAD

1

obsolete : locality, place

2

: advantage —used chiefly in the phrase to stand one in good stead

3

: the office, place, or function ordinarily occupied or carried out by someone or something else <acted in his brother's stead>

Examples of STEAD

1. <a summer internship will stand you in good stead when applying to college>

Origin of STEAD

Middle English stede, from Old English; akin to Old High German stat place, Old English standan to stand — more at stand

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to STEAD

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

Antonyms: disadvantage, drawback, handicap, liability, minus, penalty, strike

Related Words: allowance, head start, lead, leg up, margin, odds, start; ascendancy (also ascendency), command, dominance, mastery, predominance, superiority, supremacy, transcendence, transcendency; precedence, preference, prerogative, privilege, seniority; break, foothold, opportunity; benefit, blessing, boon, felicity, godsend, manna, windfall

Near Antonyms: detriment, stranglehold; disparity, imbalance, inequality, unevenness; disability, failing, impairment, shortcoming; bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, rub, shackle, stop, trammel; lurch, setback

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Rhymes with STEAD

bed, bread, dead, dread, ed, fed, head, lead, med, ped, read, red, Red, redd, said, shed, shred, sled, spread, ted, thread, tread, wed, zed