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

At Circuit of the Americas, Turn 12—which was my POV—is one of the key passing zones, which is why grandstand seats there offer such a clear view of race strategy unfolding. —Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Dec. 2025

Katharina Kausche/picture alliance via Getty Images Friday marked the last day of the week-long air show, and many families gathered in the grandstand area of the airport to watch the display. —CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025

Verb

In the second season of Andor, Tony Gilroy continued his indictment of rising fascism, sprinkling the sci-fi tropes with grandstanding political drama, the impending doom of an action thriller, and a helping of French-resistance imagery, then tossing it all in a blender. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

This is hardly the first time a Louisiana governor has grandstanded about college football. —Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2025

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