stand-up

1 of 3

adjective

ˈstand-ˌəp 

1

a

: erect, upright

b

: stiffened to stay upright without folding over

a stand-up collar

2

sometimes standup : performed in, performing in, or requiring a standing position

a stand-up bar

especially : of, relating to, performing, or being a monologue of jokes, gags, or satirical comments delivered usually while standing alone on a stage or in front of a camera

stand-up comedy

a stand-up comedian

3

: marked by a high degree of personal integrity or loyalty

a stand-up guy

stand-up

2 of 3

noun

variants or less commonly standup

1

: stand-up comedy

also : a performer of such comedy

2

: a television broadcast in which the reporter or narrator faces the camera with the scene of the story in the background

stand up

3 of 3

verb

stood up; standing up; stands up

intransitive verb

1

: to rise to a standing position

2

: to remain sound and intact under stress, attack, or close scrutiny

need evidence that will stand up in court

transitive verb

informal

: to fail to keep an appointment with

Where were you yesterday? You stood me up.

see also:

stand up for stand up to stand up with

Synonyms of stand-up

Adjective

• honorable
• honest
• ethical
• decent
• upright
• respectable
• principled
• noble

Verb

• fly
• work
• hold up

Examples of stand-up in a Sentence

Adjective

a real stand-up guy, he's willing to raise the child—by himself if necessary

a puppy with stand-up ears

Verb

a hypothesis that won't stand up to close analysis

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Outside, a sandy beach (shared with just one neighboring cottage) comes stocked with kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for exploring the pond. — Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 27 June 2026

Now, Wakim is bringing his stand-up on the road for a tour across the United States. — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 26 June 2026

Noun

All this was built on a self-deprecating stand-up persona that made hay of middle-aged masculinity. — Alison Herman, Variety, 30 June 2026

Docked drones started flying, repeating missions on their own, producing a fresh 3D model, ready for the crew stand-up each morning. — Mike Winn, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Verb

This compact one-bedroom dwelling is made from high-quality materials, including alloy steel that can stand up against harsh weather conditions, according to the listing. — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026

One was banished for falling in love with a Spanish explorer, another stood up against the Spanish conquistadors, while the third’s tears filled Lake Zirahuén. — Eric Adler june 24, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Noun

1954, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for stand-up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Kids Definition

stand up

verb

1

: to rise to a standing position

2

: to remain in good condition

stands up to repeated washings

3

: to fail to keep an appointment with