statestatestatesstatedstating2verb (states, stating, stated)to formally say or write something: I stated in my letter that I was looking for a job.statestatestates1noun1how somebody or something is: The house was in a terrible state. What state of mind is he in?2a country and its government: Many schools are owned by the state.3(alsoState) a part of a country: Texas is a state in the USA.4the States (plural) (informal) the United States of America