stand
STAND
Stand (verb) means to be upright on one's feet, or to rise into that position. Example: “She stood by the window watching the rain.”
verb
1
To be upright on one's feet, or to rise into that position.
"She stood by the window watching the rain."
"He stood up to give his seat to the elderly passenger."
"Please stand when the judge enters the room."
2
To be located or positioned somewhere.
"The old church still stands at the edge of the village."
"A tall oak tree stands in the middle of the field."
"Our house stands on a hill overlooking the river."
3
To tolerate or endure something, usually in the negative.
"I can't stand the sound of nails on a chalkboard."
"He can't stand waiting in long queues at the supermarket."
"How can you stand this heat without opening a window?"
4
To remain valid or in effect.
"The court's ruling still stands despite the appeal."
"The offer I made last week still stands if you want it."
"Does the rule against mobile phones in class still stand?"
5
To be a candidate in an election.
"He plans to stand as an independent candidate in the local election."
"Several teachers have decided to stand for the school governing body this spring."
"She decided to stand for city council next year."
noun
1
A small stall or structure for selling goods, or a piece of furniture for holding something upright.
"They bought lemonade from a stand on the corner."
"He hung his coat on the coat stand."
"Put your guitar on the stand so it doesn't fall over."
How to use stand
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo be upright on your feet, to stay in one place, to put up with something, or a small stall/support for holding things.
Common mistake
In British English "stand for election" is common; in American English "run for election" is far more usual, though "stand" still appears in formal contexts.
Common pairings
take a stand
stand for election
can't stand it
stand still
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Word forms
- Plural
- stands
- Third person singular
- stands
- Past tense
- stood, standen, stooden
- Archaic forms
- standest, stoodst, stoodest, standeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Please _____ when the judge enters the room.
Etymology
From Old English standan, "to stand, occupy a place," from a very old Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to stand" that also gave Latin stare and many related words across European languages.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for stand
See all rhymes for stand →Frequently asked questions
What does “stand” mean?
The word “stand” means to be upright on one's feet, or to rise into that position. In plain terms, to be upright on your feet, to stay in one place, to put up with something, or a small stall/support for holding things.
How do you pronounce “stand”?
“Stand” is pronounced STAND (/ˈstænd/ in IPA).
How do you use “stand” in a sentence?
Here is “stand” used in a sentence: “The old church still stands at the edge of the village.”
What part of speech is “stand”?
Depending on how it is used, “stand” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “stand” come from?
The word “stand” comes from Latin. From Old English standan, "to stand, occupy a place," from a very old Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to stand" that also gave Latin stare and many related words across European languages.
Is “stand” a common word?
“Stand” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “stand” have?
“Stand” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to be upright on one's feet, or to rise into that position.
What is the difference between stand and stand up?
Stand can mean either to be upright already or to rise, while stand up almost always stresses the action of getting to your feet from sitting or lying. "She stood by the window" describes a position; "please stand up" is a request to rise. The phrasal version highlights the movement itself.
What is the opposite of stand?
In the posture sense, the main opposites are sit, lie down, kneel, or crouch, all lower positions. If stand means to rise, its opposite is to sit down or lie down. Figuratively, stand can also mean to endure, whose opposite would be to give way or collapse.
What are the different meanings of stand?
Beyond being upright, stand has many senses: to tolerate something ("I can't stand the noise"), to remain valid ("the offer still stands"), to be a candidate ("stand for election"), and, as a noun, a structure or a firm position. Most senses connect to the idea of holding steady.
What is an example of using stand?
Literally: "The children stood in a line," or "He stood up to greet her." Figuratively: "I can't stand waiting," "The record still stands," and "She is standing for the local council." Each example builds on the core sense of being upright or holding firm.
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