Meaning of lie in state | Babel Free

Definitions

Of the ceremony of having a deceased official, such as a head of state, be placed in a state building to allow the public to pay their respects, often followed by a state funeral.

intransitive

Examples

“The body of the King was then taken to Westminster Hall to lie in state for three days.”

“Representative Elijah E. Cummings, whose death on Thursday left both Republicans and Democrats mourning the loss of a lawmaker they praised as passionate and decent, will lie in state in the Capitol, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday. […] No African-Americans have lain in state in the Rotunda, and only two have lain there in honor: Mrs. Parks in 2005 and Officer Jacob Joseph Chestnut, a Capitol Police officer killed in the line of duty, in 1998.”

“The Queen will lie in state at Westminster Hall in London from Wednesday at 5pm until 6:30am Monday 19 September.”

CEFR level