standby

play

noun stand·by \ ˈstan(d)-ˌbī \

Definition of standby

plural standbys play \-ˌbīz\

1 a :one to be relied on especially in emergencies

b :a favorite or reliable choice or resource

2 :one that is held in reserve ready for use :substitute

— on standby

:ready or available for immediate action or use

See standby defined for English-language learners

See standby defined for kids

Examples of standby in a Sentence

More police officers were sent as standbys.
We bought an electric generator as a standby.

Recent Examples of standby from the Web

Units from Kentucky and Tennessee have been on standby since the relief efforts began and several were called into action this week, according to a Salvation Army news release.

— darcy costello, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville continues to send aid to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts," 30 Aug. 2017
But New York had three-year backup Jay Bromley on standby and drafted Tomlinson out of Alabama in the second round the month after Hankins left.

— mark inabinett, AL.com, "Dalvin Tomlinson ready to make 'amazing' NFL debut," 30 Aug. 2017
State officials have been alerted and are on standby.

— javonte anderson, Post-Tribune, "NWI emergency responders ready to help Harvey victims," 29 Aug. 2017
Learn More Nokia has recently tried tapping into some of their old-school brand value earlier this year by revamping the Nokia 3310, a cheap, practically indestructible smartphone, whose battery lasts up to a month on standby.

— rebecca dolan, Esquire, "Nokia Wants to Make "Bothies" a Thing," 17 Aug. 2017
Previously, the Secret Service had stationed its command post—which houses supervisors and backup agents on standby in case of an emergency—in a Trump Tower unit one floor below the president’s apartment.

— bess levin, The Hive, "The Secret Service is Sick of Getting Hosed by Donald Trump," 4 Aug. 2017
All tickets for the Broad’s 10-week run will be on sale September 1, save for a handful of daily standbys (Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 day of).

— marielle wakim, Los Angeles Magazine, "Five More Yayoi Kusama Infinity Rooms Are Coming to the Broad This Fall, and You’re Going to Lose Your Mind," 19 July 2017
So far, state emergency personnel have been on standby, Rauner said.

— mike danahey, Elgin Courier-News, "Elgin area anxious for Fox River to crest," 17 July 2017
While wearing all-white has been a summer standby for as long as well, P. Diddy's annual White Party, Kit Harington here, makes the case that the alternative—all-black—is just as stylish in the summertime.

— max berlinger, GQ, "Kit Harington Is Dressing Like Jon Snow Right Now—And We Like It," 11 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'standby.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of standby

1796

standby Synonyms

Synonyms

anchor, buttress, mainstay, pillar, reliance, dependence

Related Words

backbone, sinew (s), spine; right hand; bolsterer, crutch, handmaiden (also handmaid), prop, stay; anchorage, harbor, refuge

standby

adjective

Definition of standby

1 :held near at hand and ready for use

a standby power plant

standby equipment

2 :relating to the act or condition of standing by

standby duty

a standby period

3 :of, relating to, or traveling by an airline service in which the passenger must wait for an available unreserved seat

standby passengers

a standby ticket

See standby defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of standby from the Web

Another two teams of the same size were on standby Sunday in case Texas requests more assistance.

— julia o'donoghue, NOLA.com, "Louisiana sent search-and-rescue team to Texas, 2 more on standby for Harvey," 27 Aug. 2017
Don’t fall into the old standby habits — try these recipes instead.

— daniel neman, The Seattle Times, "Got 3 meats? Now you have 12 meals.," 22 Aug. 2017
However, none of the $2 billion standby package will be made available unless the Eurozone agrees significant debt relief measures first.

— alan murray, Fortune, "CEO Daily: Friday, 21st July," 21 July 2017
These systems shut off standby power, which some studies say use as much as 5 percent of U.S. energy consumption.

— pat setter, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Make smart tech choices for your new smart home," 15 July 2017
A United spokesperson apologized, telling Hawaii News Now that the scanner didn't register Taizo's ticket, which allowed the same seat to be given out to a standby passenger.

— suzannah weiss, SELF, "This Mom Says United Airlines Forced Her to Hold Her Son the Entire Flight," 7 July 2017
Honolulu (AP) -- United Airlines has apologized to a Hawaii teacher who was forced to hold her 2-year-old son on her lap for three-and-a-half hours after an employee gave the toddler's purchased seat to a standby passenger.

— Bloomberg.com, "United Apologizes After Giving Away Toddler's Purchased Seat," 6 July 2017
United blames a mistake at check-in that caused it to give the boy's seat to a man on standby.

— CBS News, "Mom says United forced her to fly with son on lap for three hours," 6 July 2017
The new credit agreement with Berkshire comes with an interest rate of 9 percent, with a standby fee on funds not drawn down of 1.75 percent, compared with 2.5 percent previously.

— reuters, Fortune, "Warren Buffet Invested in This Company and its Stock Skyrocketed," 22 June 2017

First Known Use of standby

1872

Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

airway, apron, corridor, dirigible, fishtail, flat-hat, vector

standby

adverb

Definition of standby

:on a standby basis

fly standby

First Known Use of standby

1971

stand by

verb

Definition of stand by

intransitive verb

1 :to be present; also :to remain apart or aloof

2 :to be or to get ready to act

an ambulance was standing by

transitive verb

:to remain loyal or faithful to :defend

stood by his decision

See stand by defined for kids

Examples of stand by in a Sentence

no matter how much people object, I will stand by my decision

First Known Use of stand by

13th century

stand by Synonyms

Synonyms

cling (to), hew (to), keep (to), adhere (to), stick (to or with)

Antonyms

defect (from)

Related Words

cleave (to); advocate, back, champion, confirm, defend, endorse (also indorse), espouse, support, uphold; accept, adopt, cherish, cultivate, embrace, follow, foster, heed; backstop, bolster, boost, buttress, enforce, reinforce (also reenforce)

Near Antonyms

abandon, abnegate, desert, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender; abjure, recall, recant, reconsider, renege, renounce, retract, revoke, take back, unsay, withdraw; controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute; contradict, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, gainsay, negate, negative, repudiate; back down, back off, backtrack

STANDBY Defined for English Language Learners

standby

play

noun

Definition of standby for English Language Learners

: a person or thing that is available especially in emergencies

standby

adjective

Definition of standby for English Language Learners

: relating to or traveling by an airline service in which the passenger must wait for an available seat

Learn More about standby

See words that rhyme with standby Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for standby Nglish: Translation of standby for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of standby for Arabic speakers

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standby

Definition of standby

Recent Examples of standby from the Web

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Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

standby

Definition of standby

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stand by

Definition of stand by

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First Known Use of stand by

stand by Synonyms

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STANDBY Defined for English Language Learners

standby

Definition of standby for English Language Learners

standby

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