station
gb/stˈeɪʃən/ us/stˈeɪʃən/
A1
English
~ 900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Place where transport stops
A place where buses, trains, or other public vehicles stop for people to get on or off.
Usage pattern:
at [a/the] station
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'station' with 'stop'. A 'stop' can be any point where a vehicle halts briefly, while a 'station' is usually a larger, designated facility.
Synonyms
terminal (Often refers to the main or final station in a transport network.)
Antonyms
en route (Refers to being in transit rather than at a stopping place.)
Collocations
train station
|bus station
|railway station
|subway station
|police station
Themes
travel
|transportation
|daily life
Examples
- We waited for her at the train station.
- The bus station was crowded with commuters.
- He met me outside the subway station.
- The police station is two blocks from here.
- They arrived at the railway station just before the train departed.
Learner examples
- I go to the bus station every morning.
- She is waiting at the train station.
- We meet at the subway station.
- The police station is near my house.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Building for organizational work
A place where people work for a group like the police, fire department, or army.
Usage pattern:
at [a/the] station
Synonyms
facility (A general term for a place designed for a specific purpose.)
Collocations
fire station
|police station
|military station
Themes
work
|public services
|business
Examples
- The firefighters rushed back to the station after the call.
- She works at the local police station.
- Soldiers were stationed at the military station near the border.
Learner examples
- My father works at the fire station.
- We went to the police station to ask for help.
- There is a military station outside the city.
Verb
B1
action
3
Assign to work in a place
To send someone to stay and work in a place, often for the army or police.
Usage pattern:
to station [someone] [somewhere]
Synonyms
deploy (Often used in a military context with a stronger sense of strategic positioning.)
Antonyms
withdraw (To remove people from a location rather than assign them there.)
Collocations
station troops
|station guards
|station staff
Themes
work
|military
|law
Examples
- The army stationed soldiers along the border.
- Security guards were stationed at every entrance.
- They stationed extra staff at the check-in counters during the holiday rush.
Learner examples
- The army will station many soldiers here.
- They will station guards at the gate.
- Police are stationed outside the building.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
4
Person's social rank or status
A person's level or position in society.
Synonyms
status (More commonly used in modern speech; 'station' has a slightly formal tone.)
Antonyms
obscurity (Lack of recognition or low social position.)
Collocations
high station
|lowly station
Themes
society
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He rose from humble station to great wealth.
- Her marriage elevated her social station.
- They treated him according to his station.
Learner examples
- He was born into a high station.
- She married someone of high social station.
- They respected him because of his station.
Grammar
Dictionary form
station
IPA
GB/stˈeɪʃən/
US/stˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
sta - tion (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sta)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: station
- Plural: station, stations
Verb
- Base: station
- 3rd Person Singular: stations
- Present Participle: stationing
- Past: stationed
Word family
Forms
stations
noun
stationing
verb
stationed
verb
Related words
stationary
adjective B1
stationery
noun B1
Expressions
fire station
1/fˈaɪɚ stˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Building for firefighters and equipment
A building where firefighters work and keep their trucks and tools.
Examples
- The fire station responded quickly to the call.
- There are two fire stations in our town.
station oneself
1/stˈeɪʃən wˌʌnsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase
Place oneself deliberately somewhere
To stand or sit in a place on purpose, ready to do something.
Examples
- She stationed herself by the door to greet guests.
- He stationed himself near the exit.
station wagon
1/stˈeɪʃən wˈæɡən/
fixed phrase
Car with extended rear cargo area
A car with extra space in the back and a door at the back.
Examples
- They loaded their camping gear into the station wagon.
- He drives an old red station wagon.
train station
1/tɹˈeɪn stˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Place where trains stop
A place where trains stop so people can get on or off.
Examples
- I'll meet you at the train station at 5 p.m.
- The train station was busy with travelers.
police station
1/pəlˈis stˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Building for police work
A building where police officers work.
Examples
- He went to the police station to file a report.
- We went to the police station to report the theft.
- The suspect is being held at the police station.
- The police station is just around the corner.