stand-in

1 of 2

noun

Synonyms of stand-innext
1
: someone employed to occupy an actor's place while lights and camera are readied
2

stand in

2 of 2

verb

stood in; standing in; stands in

intransitive verb

: to act as a stand-in
see also:

Examples of stand-in in a Sentence

Noun hired him at the last minute as a stand-in for the person who quit Verb she will be standing in for the regular teacher for a week
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Courteney Cox‘s dogged reporter/stand-in for media immorality Gale Weathers will naturally be on the scene once again, as well a host of recurring characters, fan favorites, and old faces from all six of the previous entries. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2026 Sugar substitutes are marketed as a healthier alternative to regular sugar, stand-ins that will offer the same sweet taste but won’t pose the same threat to your weight or dental health. Caroline Tien, SELF, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
Vitello also learned where not to stand in the dugout after getting hit on his left shin by a foul ball. Haley Smilow, Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2026 The blood-sport mode of debate stands in loud contrast to that of Lincoln-Douglas, and also that of Kramer/Fauci. Talya Zax, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stand-in

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1904, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stand-in was in 1904

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stand-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stand-in. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

stand-in

1 of 2 noun
ˈstan-ˌdin
1
: someone employed to occupy an actor's place while lights and camera are readied
2

stand in

2 of 2 verb
(ˈ)stan-ˈdin
: to act as a stand-in
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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