interstate

1 of 2

adjective

in·​ter·​state ˌin-tər-ˈstāt How to pronounce interstate (audio)
: of, connecting, or existing between two or more states especially of the U.S.
interstate commerce

interstate

2 of 2

noun

in·​ter·​state ˈin-tər-ˌstāt How to pronounce interstate (audio)
: any of a system of expressways connecting most major U.S. cities

called also interstate highway

Examples of interstate in a Sentence

Noun You'll get there quicker if you take the interstate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The Lacy Act prohibits the interstate trade of wildlife that was taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation to federal or state law. Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 14 Mar. 2024 But an interstate regulatory board that controls the fishery has released a plan to potentially keep the elver quota at its current level of a little less than 10,000 pounds a year with no sunset date. Patrick Whittle, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 Biden spoke at a Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee in a largely Black and Latino neighborhood where 17,000 homes and 1,000 businesses were destroyed in the 1960s to make way for an interstate highway. Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 That includes the interstate highways as well as seven U.S. highways and part of State Highway 29. Karl Ebert, Journal Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2024 The 112-acre parcel, one of the Bay Area’s most important development sites, has stellar transportation access, including an interstate freeway on one side, a BART station and Capitol Corridor train stop on the other, and an international airport just three miles away. Daniel Borenstein, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 The highway system is light red; the thickest lines are interstate highways. Michael Zeiler, Discover Magazine, 23 Feb. 2024 Jiang is charged with transmitting an interstate/foreign commerce communication threat to cause bodily injury, the complaint says. Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 Here's why some Milwaukee highway and interstate lights are purple During the last weekend in January, there were 121 active street light outages due to the circuit troubles, which the city says is an all-time high. Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024
Noun
According to State Police, downed power lines across the interstate shut down lanes both ways, about one mile south of I-69 on the northeast side of the city, about 1:50 p.m. Just before 2:30, State Police announced all lanes opened up, but traffic is congested in both directions. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Mar. 2024 An investigation into the crash found an SUV being driven by Santana was heading southbound on the interstate when the vehicle veered onto the shoulder and struck the trooper’s patrol car. Timothy Nerozzi, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2024 Authorities closed the interstate in both directions after 5 p.m. on a day when the majority of more than a dozen ski resorts around Lake Tahoe were closed, a tornado touched down in Central California and visitors to Yosemite National Park were told to leave. Times Photography Wire Services, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2024 An analysis of traffic patterns from that year suggests that the worst of the traffic — both on big interstates and rural backroads — will kick off after the eclipse ends and everyone tries to exit all at once. Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2024 Circus Trucks Crashes and Overturns in Spain Killing 1 Elephant and Injuring 4 More Photos and video from the rescue shared on Facebook by the Grant County Sheriff's Office show the smoking trailer and zebras and camels walking near the side of the interstate with officers watching nearby. Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 29 Jan. 2024 The reclaimed coal mine sits too far from any interstate to attract businesses, Harless explained, and now the leftover building shells give it a strange, industrial, ghost town feel. Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 20 Feb. 2024 The Karcher Interchange was built in 2006 to provide access from the interstate to State Highway 55 toward Marsing. Rachel Spacek, Idaho Statesman, 20 Feb. 2024 Overnight closures will begin at 10 p.m. and the interstate will reopen by 5 a.m. each morning. Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'interstate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1844, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of interstate was in 1844

Dictionary Entries Near interstate

Cite this Entry

“Interstate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interstate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

interstate

1 of 2 adjective
in·​ter·​state ˌint-ər-ˈstāt How to pronounce interstate (audio)
: of, connecting, or existing between states especially of the U.S.
interstate highways

interstate

2 of 2 noun
in·​ter·​state ˈint-ər-ˌstāt How to pronounce interstate (audio)
: an interstate highway

More from Merriam-Webster on interstate

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