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
1
A state of being ready to act at short notice.
"The ambulance crew was on standby all night."
2
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."
3
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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- standbys
- Third person singular
- standbys
- Past tense
- standbyed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The ambulance crew was on _____ all night.
Etymology
Formed from the phrasal verb "stand by," turned into a single noun.
Synonyms
View more →
understudy
at the ready
Antonyms
Related words
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.
