standby

1 of 4

noun

stand·​by ˈstan(d)-ˌbī 

plural standbys ˈstan(d)-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

standby

2 of 4

adjective

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

standby

3 of 4

adverb

: on a standby basis

fly standby

stand by

4 of 4

verb

stood by; standing by; stands 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

Phrases

on standby

: ready or available for immediate action or use

Synonyms

Noun

• anchor
• buttress
• dependence
• dependance
• mainstay
• pillar
• reliance

Verb

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

Examples of standby in a Sentence

Noun

More police officers were sent as standbys.

We bought an electric generator as a standby.

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the absence of FEMA, states would have to hire their own disaster response experts to be on standby. —Simmone Shah, Time, 2 May 2025

Firefighters were on standby as cops responded around 4:24 p.m. to the courthouse near Centre St. and Hogan Place in Lower Manhattan, according to the FDNY. —Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2025

Adjective

The major security operation includes stationing an armed naval vessel off the coast, and putting squads of fighter jets on standby, Italian media reported. —Colleen Barry, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025

He was replaced by standby official Frederick L’Ecuyer. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 21 Apr. 2025

Adverb

But for the approximately 750,000 Americans who have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), being away from home—and a familiar bathroom—often feels riskier than flying standby. —Karla Walsh, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2024

Southwest Airlines: Travelers with Southwest flights scheduled to, through and from Cancun (CUN) through Sept. 25 may rebook travel or fly standby for free within 14 days of their original travel dates. —Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024

Verb

Trump had publicly stood by Waltz after his national security adviser and other members of the chat vigorously denied sharing any classified war plans on the publicly available app Signal. —Joey Garrison, USA Today, 2 May 2025

That left Minnesota’s shooters open on the perimeter and Rudy Gobert standing by himself near the rim. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 1 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1712, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1971, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing standby

• on standby

Rhymes for standby

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

standby

1 of 4 noun

stand·​by ˈstan(d)-ˌbī 

plural standbys -ˌbīz 

: one available or to be relied on especially in emergencies

standby

2 of 4 adjective

1

: held near at hand and ready for use

standby equipment

2

: relating to the act of standing by

a standby period

3

: of or relating to a mode of transportation (as airline service) in which the passengers must wait for an available unreserved spot

a standby ticket

standby

3 of 4 adverb

: as a standby passenger

flying standby

stand by

4 of 4 verb

(ˈ)stan(d)-ˈbī

1

: to be present

stood by, watching the game

2

: to be or to get ready to act

ambulances are standing by

3

: to remain loyal or faithful

stood by us to the end

stood by his decision