standing
STAN-dihng
Standing (adj) means remaining in effect on an ongoing basis. Example: “The restaurant has a standing booking for our team every Friday lunchtime.”
adj
1
Remaining in effect on an ongoing basis.
"The restaurant has a standing booking for our team every Friday lunchtime."
"Parents have a standing arrangement with the school to collect children at four."
"There is a standing invitation for her to visit any time."
2
Upright and not cut down or removed.
"The farmer left the standing corn in the field to ripen a little longer."
"After the fire, the standing walls were the only part of the barn left."
"Only a few standing trees survived the storm."
noun
1
A person's reputation, rank, or position within a group or profession.
"Her standing among scientists rose after she published her research."
"A mistake like that could damage your standing at work."
"His standing in the community grew after years of charity work."
2
A team's or player's position in a ranked list of results.
"Check the latest standings to see which team leads the table."
"Our club's standing fell after two defeats in a row."
"The team moved up to third in the league standings."
3
Law: the legal right to bring a case, based on one's connection to the matter.
"Only people directly affected by the rule had standing to challenge it in court."
"Without standing, the group could not bring its complaint before the judge."
"The court ruled the plaintiff lacked standing to sue."
How to use standing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing upright or ongoing, or a person's (or team's) rank and reputation.
Common pairings
standing invitation
league standings
legal standing
good standing
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Word forms
- Plural
- standings
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The restaurant has a _____ booking for our team every Friday lunchtime.
Etymology
Came into English as Middle English standynge, stondynge, standende, stondinde, standande or stondande, from Old English standende, stondende, from Proto-Germanic *standandz (“standing”), the present participle of Proto-Germanic *standaną (“to stand”). It is equivalent to stand + -ing.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for standing
landing
handing
sanding
branding
demanding
upstanding
commanding
outstanding
understanding
grandstanding
notwithstanding
misunderstanding
See all rhymes for standing →
Frequently asked questions
What does “standing” mean?
The word “standing” means remaining in effect on an ongoing basis. In plain terms, being upright or ongoing, or a person's (or team's) rank and reputation.
How do you pronounce “standing”?
“Standing” is pronounced STAN-dihng (/ˈstændɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “standing” in a sentence?
Here is “standing” used in a sentence: “There is a standing invitation for her to visit any time.”
What is the opposite of “standing”?
The opposite of “standing” — its antonyms — are moving and working.
What part of speech is “standing”?
Depending on how it is used, “standing” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “standing” a common word?
“Standing” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “standing” have?
“Standing” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: remaining in effect on an ongoing basis.
What is a standing invitation?
A standing invitation is one that stays open indefinitely, without needing to be repeated. Instead of inviting someone for a single occasion, you tell them they are welcome any time. It remains in effect on an ongoing basis until it is explicitly withdrawn.
What does a standing order mean?
A standing order is an instruction that stays in force until it is cancelled, rather than one carried out just once. In banking it is a regular automatic payment of a fixed amount; more broadly it is any ongoing rule or command that continues to apply.
What is the difference between standing and permanent?
Both describe something lasting, but 'standing' means currently in effect and continuing until changed or cancelled, implying it could be altered. 'Permanent' suggests something intended to last indefinitely, with no expectation of change. A standing arrangement can be ended; a permanent one is meant to be forever.
What is an example of 'standing' used as an adjective?
Common examples include a standing invitation, a standing order, a standing army, and a standing rule. In each case 'standing' means the thing remains permanently in place on an ongoing basis — the army is kept up in peacetime, the rule stays in force until formally changed.
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