# stations

/ˈsteɪʃənz/ (US) · /stˈeɪʃənz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stations
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. transport hubs

noun · CEFR A1

places where trains or buses regularly stop for passengers to get on and off.

For teachers: designated stopping points for public transport vehicles, particularly trains and buses, equipped with platforms and passenger facilities.

- The high-speed train stops at three major stations before reaching the capital.
- Urban planners are focusing on connecting the various subway stations with dedicated cycling paths to reduce reliance on private vehicles.

Usage: Usually used with the preposition 'at'.

### 2. broadcasting or emergency services

noun · CEFR A2

buildings used for radio, television, or emergency services like the police and fire department.

For teachers: establishments equipped for radio or television transmission, or headquarters for civil services such as police and fire brigades.

- The city has several fire stations to ensure a quick response to any emergency.
- Local radio stations often provide more detailed weather updates for rural communities than national networks do.

### 3. social or professional status

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

the positions or ranks that people have in society or at work.

For teachers: the social or professional standing of individuals within a hierarchy.

- In the past, people were expected to marry others from similar social stations.
- The novel explores the rigid boundaries between different social stations in nineteenth-century European society.

Teaching tip: This sense is mostly found in historical contexts or formal literature; modern speakers prefer 'status' or 'background'.

### 4. assigning to a place

verb · CEFR B2

to put someone, like a soldier or a guard, in a specific place to do a job.

For teachers: to assign someone, typically military or security personnel, to a particular post or location for duty.

- The commander stations guards at every entrance to the building.
- The agency stations undercover officers at major international airports to monitor suspicious activity during peak travel seasons.

Usage: This is the third-person singular form of the verb; it is often used in the passive voice.

## Examples

- The train stops at three different stations in the city.
- Most major railway stations now offer free wireless internet and several dining options for passengers waiting for their connections.
- The urban planning committee proposed a series of multi-modal stations to integrate the existing subway lines with the new high-speed rail network.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.