noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

standby

STAND-beye

Standby (noun) means a state of being ready to act at short notice. Example: “The ambulance crew was on standby all night.”

noun

A state of being ready to act at short notice.

"The ambulance crew was on standby all night."

Waiting at an airport in hopes of getting a seat on a fully booked flight.

"They flew standby and just barely got seats on the last flight out."

A backup person or item kept ready in case of need.

"The understudy was the standby for the lead role."

How to use standby

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishReady and waiting in reserve, whether it's a person, a seat, or a piece of equipment.

Common pairings

on standby standby ticket standby generator

Word forms

standbyed past tense, standbys plural, standbys singular

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The ambulance crew was on _____ all night.

Etymology

Formed from the phrasal verb "stand by," turned into a single noun.

Synonyms

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at the ready

Frequently asked questions

What does “standby” mean?

The word “standby” means a state of being ready to act at short notice. In plain terms, ready and waiting in reserve, whether it's a person, a seat, or a piece of equipment.

How do you pronounce “standby”?

“Standby” is pronounced STAND-beye (/ˈsteə̯ndˌbaɪ̯/ in IPA).

How do you use “standby” in a sentence?

Here is “standby” used in a sentence: “The ambulance crew was on standby all night.”

What is another word for “standby”?

Words with a similar meaning to “standby” include at the ready.

What part of speech is “standby”?

“Standby” is a noun.

Is “standby” a common word?

“Standby” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “standby” have?

“Standby” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a state of being ready to act at short notice.