Stern: meaning, definitions and examples

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stern

 

[ stɜːrn ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

serious

showing no friendliness towards someone; severe or strict in manner or attitude

Synonyms

severe, strict, unfriendly

Examples of usage

  • She gave him a stern look and he immediately knew he was in trouble.
  • The teacher had a stern expression on her face as she scolded the students for misbehaving.
Context #2 | Noun

anatomy

the rear or after part of a ship or boat

Synonyms

aft, back, rear

Examples of usage

  • The cargo was stored in the stern of the ship.
  • The sailors gathered at the stern to watch the sunset.

Translations

Translations of the word "stern" in other languages:

🇵🇹 severo

🇮🇳 कठोर

🇩🇪 streng

🇮🇩 ketat

🇺🇦 суворий

🇵🇱 surowy

🇯🇵 厳しい (きびしい)

🇫🇷 sévère

🇪🇸 severo

🇹🇷 sert

🇰🇷 엄격한 (엄격한)

🇸🇦 صارم

🇨🇿 přísný

🇸🇰 prísny

🇨🇳 严厉的 (yánlì de)

🇸🇮 strog

🇮🇸 strangur

🇰🇿 қатал

🇬🇪 მკაცრი

🇦🇿 sərt

🇲🇽 severo

Etymology

The word 'stern' originated from Middle English and Old English, ultimately deriving from the Proto-Germanic word 'sternō'. It has been used in English since the 12th century. Originally, 'stern' referred to the rear part of a ship or boat, but over time it also came to describe a serious or strict manner. The dual usage of 'stern' reflects its nautical and figurative meanings.

See also: sterner, sternly, sternness, sternwheeler.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,514 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.