- (also State)[countable] a country considered as an organized political community controlled by one government
- the Baltic States
- European Union member states
Which Word? country / statecountry / statesee also chief of state, city state, client state, failed state, Gulf States (1), head of state, nation state, police state, welfare state- Country is the most usual, neutral word for a geographical area that has or used to have its own government.
- State emphasizes the political organization of an area under an independent government. Especially in British English, it can also mean the government:
- the member states of the EU
- The state provides free education.
Extra ExamplesTopics Politicsa2- The Seychelles became an independent state in 1976.
- member states of the European Union
- rogue states that shelter terrorists
- Delegates from a number of Arab states attended the meeting.
- It has not yet been recognized as an independent sovereign state.
- Many of these countries are one-party states of one type or another.
- The action was opposed by several UN member states.
- a newly independent state
- relations between the two states
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- city
- nation
- independent
- …
- create
- establish
- become
- …
- enterprise
- monopoly
- control
- …
- affairs of state
- matters of state
- church and state
- …
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- (also State)[countable](abbreviation St.)an organized political community forming part of a country
- the states of Victoria and Western Australia
- The hurricane swept across the southern states of the US.
- Both candidates have been campaigning in key battleground states.
- She decided to return to her home state of Ohio.
Extra ExamplesTopics Politicsa2- A handful of states have introduced similar legislation.
- George W. Bush won the state of Florida.
- He roamed throughout the state.
- I was a correctional officer out of Utah state prison.
- It can be a felony to transport wine across state lines.
- Most states require all drivers to carry a minimum level of insurance.
- She was selected to represent the state of Texas at the conference.
- Thirty states have passed similar legislation.
- The legislation must work at both the federal and state levels.
- a farm tucked into the far north-west corner of the state
- opposition to the Civil War in Kansas and the other border states
- red states for Republicans
- The Murray River is the boundary between the states of Victoria and New South Wales.
- These data may have importance at the state or national level.
- There are threats of power cuts across the state.
- State legislatures around the country debated these labeling laws.
- State law requires directors to be elected by a majority.
- state budget cuts
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- battleground
- swing
- blue
- …
- handful
- represent
- win
- allow something
- require something
- pass something
- …
- capital
- line
- court
- …
- across the state
- throughout the state
- at the state level
- on the state level
- a corner of the state
- …
- (also the State)[uncountable, singular] the government of a country
- matters/affairs of state
- people who are financially dependent on the state
- a state-owned company
- They wish to limit the power of the State.
Extra ExamplesTopics Politicsb1- The two leaders talked closely together, discussing affairs of state.
- These schools are funded by the state.
- a country with a healthcare system provided by the state
- the separation of church and state
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- city
- nation
- independent
- …
- create
- establish
- become
- …
- enterprise
- monopoly
- control
- …
- affairs of state
- matters of state
- church and state
- …
- [countable] the mental, emotional or physical condition that a person or thing is in
- a confused mental state
- state of something a confused state of mind
- anxieties about the state of the country’s economy
- The government has declared a state of emergency in the flooded regions.
- Given the current state of knowledge, it will take years to find a solution.
- A report condemned the state of prisoners' cells.
- in a… state water in a liquid state
- He was in a terrible state by the time he got home.
- in a… state of something She was in a state of shock.
- The building is in a bad state of repair (= needs to be repaired).
- He was in a state of permanent depression.
- in a … state to do something You're not in a fit state to drive.
- (British English, informal) Look at the state of you! You can't go out looking like that.
Which Word? condition / statecondition / stateThe following adjectives are frequently used with these nouns:~ condition ~ state good present excellent current physical mental poor no human emotional perfect physical no natural better original - State is a more general word than condition and is used for the condition that something is in at a particular time. It can be used without an adjective:
- the present state of medical knowledge
- We’re worried about his mental state.
- What a state this room is in (= very bad).
- Condition is used with an adjective and refers especially to the appearance, quality or working order of somebody or something:
- The car is in excellent condition.
Extra Examples- Babies can cry themselves into a state of frenzy.
- He goes into a trance-like state when he plays the guitar.
- He's concerned about his mother's state of health.
- He's not in a fit enough mental state to drive.
- His life seems to be in a constant state of chaos.
- Public speaking can produce a state of mind akin to panic.
- She continues to live in a state of denial.
- She managed to get the company's finances into a healthy state.
- She slipped into a state of unconsciousness.
- She uses music to create a particular emotional state.
- The brothers' refusal to work together had brought about this sad state of affairs.
- The country is in a perpetual state of anarchy.
- The driver was just sitting there in a state of shock.
- The education system is still in a state of flux following the recent reform.
- The house was in a poor state of repair when we bought it.
- The inspectors assess the physical state of schools and equipment.
- His teeth were in an appalling state.
- The soul continues to be reborn until it has reached a state of perfection.
- We were shocked at the run-down state of the hospital.
- You can either varnish the wood or leave it in its natural state.
- a drug that produces altered states of consciousness
- an advanced state of dehydration
- Look at the state of this room!
- The business is in a pretty good financial state.
- There are serious concerns about the current state of the economy.
- We would prefer to keep the garden in its natural state.
- What kind of state are the roads in?
- Distilled water is produced by condensing steam from boiled water back into its liquid state.
- I cannot afford it, given the present state of our finances.
- The 18th-century farmhouse is in a state of disrepair.
- This work is an artistic statement of all that I feel about the state of the world.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- acceptable
- fit
- good
- …
- get into
- go into
- reach
- …
- in a state
- into a state
- state of
- …
- be in a good, bad, etc. state of repair
- given the state of something
- a state of affairs
- …
- [uncountable] the formal ceremonies connected with high levels of government or with kings and queens
- in state The president was driven in state through the streets.
- the States[plural] (informal) the United States of America
- I've never been to the States.
country
part of country
government
condition of somebody/something
official ceremony
the US
Word OriginMiddle English (as a noun): partly a shortening of estate, partly from Latin status ‘manner of standing, condition’, from stare ‘to stand’. The current verb senses date from the mid 17th cent.
Idioms
See state in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee state in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe in/get into a state (informal, especially British English)
- to be/become excited or anxious
- She was in a real state about her exams.
- He made a mistake and got into a terrible state about it.
- Jane was in a terrible state after losing her job.
- to be dirty or untidy
- What a state this place is in!
- How did the carpet get into that state?
in a state of grace
- (in the Roman Catholic Church) having been forgiven by God for the wrong or evil things you have done
- He died in a state of grace.
a state of affairs
- a situation
- This state of affairs can no longer be ignored.
Synonyms situationsituationcircumstances ▪ position ▪ conditions ▪ things ▪ the case ▪ state of affairsThese are all words for the conditions and facts that are connected with and affect the way things are.situation all the things that are happening at a particular time and in a particular place:- the present economic situation
- The ship sank in mysterious circumstances.
- She felt she was in a position of power.
- We were forced to work outside in freezing conditions.
- Hi, Jane! How are things?
- Think things over before you decide.
- If that is the case (= if the situation described is true), we need more staff.
- How did this unhappy state of affairs come about?
- in (a) particular situation/circumstances/position/state of affairs
- the/somebody’s economic/financial/social situation/circumstances/position/conditions
- (a/an) happy/unhappy situation/circumstances/position/state of affairs
- to look at/review the situation/the circumstances/the conditions/things
the state of play
- the stage that has been reached in a process, etc. which has not yet been completed
- What is the current state of play in the peace talks?
- (especially British English) the score in a sports match, especially in cricket
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state