Standard Lemma guide

stale

adj · noun · verb · 42 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • stāl
  • /steɪl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪl
  • CMU ARPABET: S T EY1 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

No longer fresh, in reference to food, urine, straw, wounds, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: gone bad, spoiled; see also Thesaurus:rotten

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fusty, gone bad, spoiled, bad, gone off, maggoted, rotten

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

No longer fresh, new, or interesting, in reference to ideas and immaterial things; clichéd, hackneyed, dated.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: banal, played out, trite, bathetic, bromidic, cheesy, stock, clichéd, commonplace, corny, dog-eared, hackneyed, hoary, overdone, overused, overworked, pat, shopworn, stale, threadbare, timeworn, tired, warmed-over, well-worn

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Not new or recent; having been in place or in effect for some time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: antediluvian, eldern, venerable, ancient, aged, age-old, auld, cobwebbed, cobwebby, decrepit, eld, gamol, gray, hoary, moss-grown, old, old as the hills, old as the Pyramids, olden, older than dirt, older than the hills, older than the Pyramids, wintry

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Unreasonably long in coming, in reference to claims and actions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: law

Examples

  • a stale affidavit
  • a stale demand

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adj

Meaning 5

Worn out, particularly due to age or over-exertion, in reference to athletes and animals in competition.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: clapped out, decrepit, passé, damaged, defective, deteriorated, dilapidated, effete, faulty, munted, outworn, past it, past one's prime, raddled, ragged, ravaged, rinky-dink, rough, shabby, stale, tired, unimproved, wasted, weakened, wrecked, wrecksome, worn, worn-out, worsened

Antonyms: none provided

6

adj

Meaning 6

Out of date, unpaid for an unreasonable amount of time, particularly in reference to checks.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

adj

Meaning 7

Of data: out of date; not synchronized with the newest copy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

Examples

  • The bug was found to be caused by stale data in the cache.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

adj

Meaning 8

No longer nubile or suitable for marriage; past one's prime.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: over the hill; see also Thesaurus:elderly

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: matronly, past it, over the hill, elder, elderly, geriatric, gerontologic, gerontological, long in the tooth, matured, of a certain age, old as Methuselah, on in years, senior, superannuated, ivy-covered, preserved, wintry

Antonyms: none provided

9

adj

Meaning 9

Clear, free of dregs and lees; old and strong.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

adj

Meaning 10

Fallow, in reference to land.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Topics: agriculture, business, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

adj

Meaning 11

At a standstill; stalemated.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable, obsolete

Topics: board-games, chess, games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

noun

Meaning 12

Something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: colloquial

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

noun

Meaning 13

A long, thin handle (of rakes, axes, etc.)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

noun

Meaning 14

One of the posts or uprights of a ladder.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dialectal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

15

noun

Meaning 15

One of the rungs on a ladder.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

16

noun

Meaning 16

The stem of a plant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

17

noun

Meaning 17

The shaft of an arrow, spear, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

18

noun

Meaning 18

A fixed position, particularly a soldier's in a battle-line.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

19

noun

Meaning 19

A stalemate; a stalemated game.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncommon

Topics: board-games, chess, games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

20

noun

Meaning 20

An ambush.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

21

noun

Meaning 21

A band of armed men or hunters.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

22

noun

Meaning 22

The main force of an army.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Scotland, obsolete

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

23

noun

Meaning 23

Urine, especially used of horses and cattle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, uncountable

Qualifier: livestock

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

24

noun

Meaning 24

A live bird to lure birds of prey or others of its kind into a trap.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Topics: falconry, hobbies, hunting, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

25

noun

Meaning 25

Any lure, particularly in reference to people used as live bait.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

26

noun

Meaning 26

An accomplice of a thief or criminal acting as bait.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Qualifier: crime

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

27

noun

Meaning 27

a partner whose beloved abandons or torments him in favor of another.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

28

noun

Meaning 28

A patsy, a pawn, someone used under some false pretext to forward another's (usu. sinister) designs; a stalking horse.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

29

noun

Meaning 29

A prostitute of the lowest sort; any wanton woman.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Qualifier: crime

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

30

noun

Meaning 30

Any decoy, either stuffed or manufactured.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Topics: hobbies, hunting, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

31

verb

Meaning 31

To make stale; to cause to go out of fashion or currency; to diminish the novelty or interest of, particularly by excessive exposure or consumption.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

32

verb

Meaning 32

To become stale; to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

33

verb

Meaning 33

To become stale; to grow unpleasant from age.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

34

verb

Meaning 34

To make stale; to age in order to clear and strengthen (a drink, especially beer).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

35

verb

Meaning 35

To make a ladder by joining rungs ("stales") between the posts.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

36

verb

Meaning 36

To stalemate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive, uncommon

Topics: board-games, chess, games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

37

verb

Meaning 37

To be stalemated.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, obsolete

Topics: board-games, chess, games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

38

verb

Meaning 38

To urinate, especially used of horses and cattle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, obsolete

Qualifier: livestock

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

39

verb

Meaning 39

To serve as a decoy, to lure.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, rare, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

40

adjective

Meaning 40

lacking freshness, palatability, or showing deterioration from age

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • stale bread
  • the beer was stale

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: fresh

41

adjective satellite

Meaning 41

lacking originality or spontaneity; no longer new

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • moth-eaten theories about race
  • stale news

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cold, dusty, moth-eaten

Antonyms: none provided

42

verb

Meaning 42

urinate, of cattle and horses

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: make, urinate, piddle, puddle, micturate, piss, pee, pee-pee, make water, relieve oneself, take a leak, spend a penny, wee, wee-wee, pass water

History

Etymology

From Middle English stale, from Old French estal (“fixed position, place”), but probably originally from Proto-Germanic *stāną (“to stand”): compare West Flemish stel in the same sense for ‘beer’ and ‘urine’.

From Middle English stale, from Old French estal (“place, something placed”) (compare French étal), from Frankish stal, from Proto-Germanic *stallaz, earlier *staþlaz. Related to stall and stand.

From Middle English stale, from Old English stalu, from Proto-Germanic *stal-; compare English stell from this root. The development was paralleled by the ablaut which became English steal, from Middle English stele, from Old English stela, from Proto-Germanic *stel-. Both are from the same Proto-Indo-European root *stel-, *stol- (“to place, establish”), whence also Ancient Greek στελεός (steleós, “handle”). See also English stele.

Noun from Middle English stale, from Anglo-Norman estal (“urine”), from Middle Dutch stal (“urine”). Cognate with Middle Low German stal (“horse urine; bowel movement”). Verb from Middle English stalen, from Old French estaler (“urinate”), related to Middle High German stallen (“to piss”).

From Middle English stale (“bird used as a decoy”), probably from uncommon Anglo-Norman estale (“pigeon used to lure hawks”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic, probably *standaną (“to stand”). Compare Old English stælhran (“decoy reindeer”) and Northumbrian stællo (“catching fish”).

Across languages

Translations

148 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Albanian: bajat — having lost its freshness
  • Azerbaijani: bayat — having lost its freshness
  • Bulgarian: баят (bajat) — having lost its freshness
  • Catalan: passat — having lost its freshness
  • Catalan: ranci — having lost its freshness
  • Catalan: florit — having lost its freshness
  • Chinese Mandarin: 陳腐 /陈腐 (chénfǔ) — having lost its freshness
  • Dutch: oud — having lost its freshness
  • Dutch: oudbakken — having lost its freshness
  • Dutch: vervallen — having lost its freshness
  • Dutch: brak — having lost its freshness
  • Dutch: muf — having lost its freshness
  • Dutch: verschaald — having lost its freshness
  • Esperanto: malfreŝa — having lost its freshness
  • Finnish: väljähtänyt — having lost its freshness
  • Finnish: ummehtunut — having lost its freshness
  • Finnish: vanhentunut — having lost its freshness
  • French: rassis — having lost its freshness
  • French: avarié — having lost its freshness
  • Galician: reseso — having lost its freshness
  • Galician: resésego — having lost its freshness
  • Galician: falmaguento — having lost its freshness
  • Galician: manido — having lost its freshness
  • Galician: pasado — having lost its freshness
  • Galician: choco — having lost its freshness
  • German: abgestanden — having lost its freshness
  • German: schal — having lost its freshness
  • German: altbacken — having lost its freshness
  • German: fade — having lost its freshness
  • Greek: μπαγιάτικος (bagiátikos) — having lost its freshness
  • Greek: στάσιμος (stásimos) — having lost its freshness
  • Ancient Greek: ἕωλος (héōlos) — having lost its freshness
  • Hungarian: állott — having lost its freshness
  • Hungarian: áporodott — having lost its freshness
  • Hungarian: poshadt — having lost its freshness
  • Icelandic: staðinn — having lost its freshness
  • Indonesian: basi — having lost its freshness
  • Italian: raffermo — having lost its freshness
  • Italian: ammuffito — having lost its freshness
  • Italian: avariato — having lost its freshness
  • Italian: rancido — having lost its freshness
  • Japanese: 古い (furui) — having lost its freshness
  • Khmer: ចាស់ (cah) — having lost its freshness
  • Ladino: bayat — having lost its freshness
  • Malay: basi — having lost its freshness
  • Norman: raccourchi — having lost its freshness
  • Norman: mouaîsi — having lost its freshness
  • Old English: ealdbacen — having lost its freshness
  • Persian: بیات (bayât) — having lost its freshness
  • Polish: czerstwy — having lost its freshness
  • Portuguese: parado — having lost its freshness
  • Portuguese: estagnado — having lost its freshness
  • Portuguese: rançoso — having lost its freshness
  • Portuguese: seco — having lost its freshness
  • Portuguese: velho — having lost its freshness
  • Russian: несве́жий (nesvéžij) — having lost its freshness
  • Russian: чёрствый (čórstvyj) — having lost its freshness
  • Russian: за́тхлый (zátxlyj) — having lost its freshness
  • Spanish: revenido — having lost its freshness
  • Spanish: pasado — having lost its freshness
  • Spanish: rancio — having lost its freshness
  • Spanish: viciado — having lost its freshness
  • Spanish: alaste — having lost its freshness
  • Spanish: correoso — having lost its freshness
  • Spanish: acorchado — having lost its freshness
  • Spanish: melcochudo — having lost its freshness
  • Spanish: melcochoso — having lost its freshness
  • Spanish: (para) nada fresco/hodierno — having lost its freshness
  • Swedish: avslagen — having lost its freshness
  • Swedish: däven — having lost its freshness
  • Tày: bốt — having lost its freshness
  • Tày: mên bốt — having lost its freshness
  • Tày: bút — having lost its freshness
  • Telugu: పాచిన (pācina) — having lost its freshness
  • Telugu: వాడిన (vāḍina) — having lost its freshness
  • Telugu: వడలిన (vaḍalina) — having lost its freshness
  • Turkish: bayat — having lost its freshness
  • Vietnamese: thiu — having lost its freshness
  • Vietnamese: ôi — having lost its freshness
  • Walloon: passé — having lost its freshness
  • Walloon: avancî — having lost its freshness
  • Walloon: suri — having lost its freshness
  • Albanian: bajat — no longer new or interesting
  • Bulgarian: банален (banalen) — no longer new or interesting
  • Catalan: gastat — no longer new or interesting
  • Catalan: passat — no longer new or interesting
  • Dutch: ouderwets — no longer new or interesting
  • Finnish: väljähtänyt — no longer new or interesting
  • Finnish: tympeä — no longer new or interesting
  • Finnish: kulunut — no longer new or interesting
  • French: vieilli — no longer new or interesting
  • French: périmé — no longer new or interesting
  • French: caduc — no longer new or interesting
  • French: suranné — no longer new or interesting
  • French: démodé — no longer new or interesting
  • German: veraltet — no longer new or interesting
  • German: ausgelutscht — no longer new or interesting
  • German: abgestanden — no longer new or interesting
  • German: (n.) olle Kamellen — no longer new or interesting
  • German: banal — no longer new or interesting
  • German: von vorgestern — no longer new or interesting
  • Greek: ξεπερασμένος (xeperasménos) — no longer new or interesting
  • Greek: έωλος (éolos) — no longer new or interesting
  • Hungarian: elcsépelt — no longer new or interesting
  • Hungarian: ósdi — no longer new or interesting
  • Italian: obsoleto — no longer new or interesting
  • Italian: sorpassato — no longer new or interesting
  • Italian: vecchio — no longer new or interesting
  • Italian: superato — no longer new or interesting
  • Japanese: 陳腐な (chinpu-na) — no longer new or interesting
  • Portuguese: estagnado — no longer new or interesting
  • Russian: изби́тый (izbítyj) — no longer new or interesting
  • Russian: бана́льный (banálʹnyj) — no longer new or interesting
  • Russian: борода́тый (borodátyj) — no longer new or interesting
  • Spanish: manido — no longer new or interesting
  • Spanish: anquilosado — no longer new or interesting
  • Spanish: trillado — no longer new or interesting
  • Spanish: manoseado — no longer new or interesting
  • Spanish: periclitado — no longer new or interesting
  • Swedish: passé — no longer new or interesting
  • Turkish: bayat — no longer new or interesting
  • Walloon: aviyi — no longer new or interesting
  • Walloon: forpassé — no longer new or interesting
  • Walloon: foû môde — no longer new or interesting
  • German: alter Kanten — something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh
  • Spanish: coscurro — something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh
  • Spanish: mendrugo — something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh
  • Spanish: sequete — something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh
  • Spanish: rosigón — something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh
  • Spanish: zatico — something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh
  • Spanish: chusco — something stale; a loaf of bread or the like that is no longer fresh
  • Finnish: varsi — long, thin handle
  • Finnish: varsi — archery: shaft of an arrow
  • Ottoman Turkish: كوندر (günder, gönder) — archery: shaft of an arrow
  • Ottoman Turkish: اوق (ok) — archery: shaft of an arrow
  • Ottoman Turkish: قاشان (kaşan) — urine of horses
  • Finnish: kyllästyttää — to diminish the interest of by excessive exposure or consumption
  • German: Interesse verlieren an — to diminish the interest of by excessive exposure or consumption
  • Portuguese: saturar — to diminish the interest of by excessive exposure or consumption
  • Finnish: kyllästyä — to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption
  • German: über haben — to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption
  • German: überkonsumieren — to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption
  • Kyrgyz: катуу (katuu) — to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption
  • Portuguese: enjoar — to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption
  • Russian: черстветь (čerstvetʹ) — to grow odious from excessive exposure or consumption
  • Finnish: mennä pilalle — of alcohol: to grow unpleasant from age
  • German: umkippen — of alcohol: to grow unpleasant from age
  • German: allmählich abscheulich schmecken — of alcohol: to grow unpleasant from age