stern

adjective
UK: /stɜːn/
US: /stɝːn/

  1. Serious and strict; showing disapproval.

    1. My dad is stern with me.
    2. The teacher gave the students a stern look when they misbehaved in class.

  2. Difficult or severe.

    1. Life can be stern sometimes.
    2. He faces a stern test to prove his abilities to lead the project properly.

Synonyms

back severe strict rear austere
stern noun

  1. The back part of a boat or ship.

    1. The stern faced the harbor.
    2. We stood at the stern, watching the wake disappear into the distance slowly.
stern verb

  1. To face or move towards the back of a ship.

    1. He sterned the boat quickly.
    2. The captain sterned the ship to avoid the approaching iceberg effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "stern" in English means: Serious and strict; showing disapproval., Difficult or severe..

The phonetic transcription of "stern" is /stɜːn/ in British English and /stɝːn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "stern": back, severe, strict, rear, austere.

Example usage of "stern": "My dad is stern with me.". More examples on the page.