Word
stately
Phoneticsstate·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsteɪtɫi/
UK/stˈeɪtli/
Definitions
01grand and impressive
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. impressive and grand in size or appearance, like a large old house or a palace.
adj. majestic or imposing in appearance; often used to describe architecture or large-scale objects that command respect.
“The family lived in a stately home that had been built hundreds of years ago.”
“The stately columns of the national library gave the building an air of permanence and intellectual authority.”
02slow and dignified
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. moving in a slow, calm, and serious way that shows you are important.
adj. characterized by a deliberate, unhurried, and dignified pace or manner.
“The queen walked at a stately pace through the crowd of guests.”
“The procession moved at a stately tempo, allowing the onlookers to appreciate the intricate details of the ceremonial costumes.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03in a dignified way
C2 · Proficiency Archaic · Literary
adv. to do something in a slow, grand, and serious manner.
adv. in a stately or dignified manner; functions as the adverbial form of the adjective.
“The large ship sailed stately out of the harbour into the open sea.”
“The old vessel glided stately across the mirror-like surface of the lake, its reflection undisturbed by the gentle wake.”
Usage
While 'stately' is primarily an adjective, it occasionally functions as an adverb in literary contexts; modern prose typically prefers 'in a stately manner'.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters The prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, said Harald “struck a balance between being stately and being down-to-earth.” “Summed up in a sentence Fleabag’s Sian Clifford plays delusional Lady Isabella Ravenhyde, who fancies herself “the aristocracy’s answer to the Kardashians” and invites a documentary-maker into her stately pile with comically calamitous results.” Etymology
From Middle English staately, staatly, stateli, statelie, stately, statelyche, statelye, statli, statly. Compare stour. By surface analysis, state + -ly (adjectival suffix).
From Middle English stately, statli, equivalent to state + -ly (adverbial suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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