grandstand

1 of 3

noun

grand·​stand ˈgran(d)-ˌstand 

1

: a usually roofed stand for spectators at a racecourse or stadium

2

: audience

grandstand

2 of 3

adjective

: done for show or to impress onlookers

grandstand

3 of 3

verb

grandstanded; grandstanding; grandstands

intransitive verb

: to play or act so as to impress onlookers

Examples of grandstand in a Sentence

Adjective

The outfielder made a grandstand play out of what should have been a routine catch.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Everything else was general admission, including the grandstands, which were first-come, first-served. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Sidewalks that people normally mill around were covered with fencing and grandstands were constructed on other areas. — Keith Laing, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

Verb

Might that be because this particular partner would include politicians prone to grandstanding — or, alternatively, focused more on mundane issues such as schools and crime than on horse racing? — Stephen J. K. Walters, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2026

Florida Attorney General James Ulthmeier once again is grandstanding and sticking his nose into a national issue. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1754, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1883, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1915, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for grandstand

• armband
• backhand
• bandstand
• baseband
• broadband
• command
• cropland
• demand
• disband
• dreamland
• expand
• farmhand

Kids Definition

grandstand

noun

grand·​stand

-ˌstand

: a usually roofed stand for spectators at a racecourse or stadium