Meaning & use
Texas
Last updated
Meanings
proper nounproper
A state in the southern United States, on the border with Mexico.
Grammar: Always capitalized; used without 'the' except in phrases like 'the state of Texas'.
Austin is the capital of Texas.
She moved to Texas to work in the oil industry.
adjectivebefore a nouninformalAmerican
Used before a noun to mean very large or impressive, as associated with Texas.
Grammar: Informal and mainly American; often hyphenated when part of a compound.
They served us a Texas-sized steak.
He has a Texas-sized ego.
Common combinations
- the state of Texas
- The state of Texas is larger than many countries.
- Texas Hold'em
- They played Texas Hold'em all night.
- Texas-sized
- We ordered a Texas-sized pizza.
Synonyms and how they differ
- Lone Star State
- A nickname for Texas; use it informally or in tourism contexts.
Word family
Commonly confused: Texas or taxes?
Texas vs taxes
Sounds similar but means money paid to the government; note the different vowel sound.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Texas' correctly?
Choose one answer.
State names like Texas are proper nouns and are used without 'the' or 'a' in this context. 'The Texas' and 'a Texas' are not standard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Texas”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.