Word
stern
Phoneticsstern
US/ˈstɝn/
UK/stˈɜːn/
Definitions
01strict and serious
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. very serious and strict in the way you behave or speak.
adj. having a hardness or severity of nature, manner, or character; demanding obedience.
日本語:厳しい※
“The teacher gave us a stern warning about talking during the exam.”
“The headmaster's stern expression made it clear that no further disruptions would be tolerated during the assembly.”
02grim appearance
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. looking very serious, cold, or unfriendly.
adj. grim and forbidding in appearance; lacking any sign of warmth or friendliness.
“The old stone prison had a stern and scary look.”
“The mountain range presented a stern face to the climbers, with jagged peaks shrouded in grey, unforgiving clouds.”
Synonyms
03back of a ship
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Nautical
n. the back part of a ship or boat.
n. the rear or aftermost part of a ship or other vessel.
“The name of the boat was painted in gold letters on the stern.”
“The waves crashed against the stern as the captain struggled to keep the vessel on course during the gale.”
Antonyms
04in control
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Literary
n. the position of being in charge of something.
n. the post of management or direction; often used in the phrase 'at the stern'.
“With a new CEO at the stern, the company began to make a profit.”
“The veteran politician remained at the stern of the party for decades, navigating through numerous national crises with steady hands.”
Etymology
* As a German and Jewish surname, from the noun Stern (“star”). This was also borrowed into various Slavic languages such as Serbo-Crotian and Slovenian. * As an English surname, from the adjective stern.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Idioms
Domain
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/stern
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0