steward
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person who helps organize a large public event, like a race or a concert, and looks after the crowd.
n.an official responsible for the management, safety, and logistics of a large-scale public event or sporting competition.
Simple“The stewards at the music festival showed us where to park our car.”
In context“Race stewards conducted a thorough investigation into the collision before deciding whether to penalize the driver for dangerous conduct.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person who looks after passengers on a ship or a plane.
n.a staff member on a commercial vessel or aircraft responsible for passenger comfort, meals, and safety.
Simple“The ship's steward brought fresh towels to our cabin every morning.”
In context“The chief steward coordinated the dining room staff to ensure that all three hundred passengers were served simultaneously during the gala.”
UsageIn aviation, 'flight attendant' has largely replaced 'steward' or 'stewardess' in modern professional contexts.
Teacher's tipWhile common in nautical contexts, using this for airline staff is now considered dated; 'flight attendant' is the standard gender-neutral term.
Synonymsattendantpurser - 03 C1 Advanced
n.someone who manages the money, land, or daily business for another person or a large organization.
n.a person appointed to manage the estates, finances, or domestic affairs of another, often in a fiduciary capacity.
Simple“He served as the steward of the family estate for over thirty years.”
In context“As the financial steward of the university's endowment, she was responsible for ensuring long-term growth while minimizing market risk.”
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a worker who is chosen by their colleagues to represent them in talks with the company bosses.
n.a labor union member elected to represent fellow workers in negotiations and grievance procedures with management.
Simple“If you have a problem with your contract, you should talk to the union steward.”
In context“The shop steward met with the factory manager to discuss the new safety protocols requested by the night shift workers.”
UsageOften used in the compound 'shop steward'.
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
n.a person who takes care of something important, like the environment or a tradition, for the future.
n.an individual who exercises responsible and protective care over resources, such as the environment or cultural heritage.
Simple“We must be good stewards of the forest so that it stays healthy for our children.”
In context“The indigenous community has acted as the primary steward of these lands for centuries, preserving a delicate ecological balance.”
- 06 C1 Advanced
v.to manage or look after something carefully.
v.to act as a steward; to manage, supervise, or care for a particular resource or organization.
Simple“She has stewarded the charity through a very difficult financial period.”
In context“The department was carefully stewarded through the transition, ensuring that no vital data was lost during the software migration.”
SynonymsAntonymsneglectmismanage
“He also believed Republicans were the party to steward the economy in the years ahead.”
From steward.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.