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noun

grandstanding

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Grandstanding (noun) means Showy behavior aimed at impressing an audience rather than achieving something genuine. Example: “His speech was dismissed as pure grandstanding ahead of the election.”

noun
1
Showy behavior aimed at impressing an audience rather than achieving something genuine.
"His speech was dismissed as pure grandstanding ahead of the election."
"For all his faults and grandstanding, however, Prescott genuinely cared - and his ambitious plans for tram schemes and railway extensions were stymied by lack of support from Downing Street." — Christian Wolmar, A time for change? ... just as it was back in issue 262 (2024)

How to use grandstanding

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishPlaying to the crowd instead of doing the real work.

Common pairings
political grandstanding accused of grandstanding
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Word forms

Plural
grandstandings
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Fill the gap

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His speech was dismissed as pure _____ ahead of the election.

Etymology

Formed from "grandstand" (verb) plus the suffix "-ing."

Rhymes for grandstanding

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Frequently asked questions

What does “grandstanding” mean?
The word “grandstanding” means showy behavior aimed at impressing an audience rather than achieving something genuine. In plain terms, playing to the crowd instead of doing the real work.
How do you use “grandstanding” in a sentence?
Here is “grandstanding” used in a sentence: “His speech was dismissed as pure grandstanding ahead of the election.”
What part of speech is “grandstanding”?
“Grandstanding” is a noun.
What is the meaning of grandstanding?
"grandstanding" (noun) means showy behavior aimed at impressing an audience rather than achieving something genuine.