1
a
: not yet cut or harvested
standing timber
standing grain
b
: upright on the feet or base : erect
the standing audience
2
: not flowing : stagnant
standing water
3
a
: remaining at the same level, degree, or amount for an indeterminate period
a standing offer
b
: continuing in existence or use indefinitely
a standing joke
4
: established by law or custom
5
: not movable
6
: done from a standing position
a standing jump
a standing ovation
1
2
a
: length of service or experience especially as determining rank, pay, or privilege
b
: position or condition in society or in a profession
especially
: good reputation
a member in good standing
3
: maintenance of position or condition : duration
a custom of long standing
Synonyms
Examples of standing in a Sentence
Adjective
Start the exercise in a standing position.
The standing offer for the computer system is $1,499.
Noun
a lawyer of high standing
They've won five games in a row and are starting to move up in the standings.
They're in first place in the current standings.
a marriage of many years' standing
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Recent Examples on the Web
Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2023
Priscilla, one of the buzziest films heading into this year’s Venice Film Festival, finally had its world premiere in competition on the Lido, receiving a rapturous seven-minute 30-second standing ovation for its director Sofia Coppola, young leads and the inspiration herself, Priscilla Presley.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2023
The movie, mostly set on a submarine, landed a brief 90-second standing ovation as actor Pierfrancesco Favino — who plays naval officer Salvatore Todaro — took a bow.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 30 Aug. 2023
Read full article Betts was greeted by another standing ovation before his first at-bat Saturday.
—Julian McWilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2023
The group wowed the judges, earning a standing ovation with its series of high-flying flips and intricate balancing acts.
—USA TODAY, 21 June 2023
Tulsa Superintendent Deborah Gist receives a standing ovation after a mutual separation agreement between her and Tulsa Public Schools was announced.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 25 Aug. 2023
Making no secret of its intention to prosecute Tusk himself, Law and Justice has created a new standing Commission to Investigate Russian Influence, signed into law by Duda on May 29.
—Foreign Affairs, 24 July 2023
Congress has often made standing appropriations that aren’t subject to periodic renewal, most notably for Social Security payments.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 20 July 2023
Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2023
CEOs can now make informed decisions with a comprehensive understanding of a target company’s health, market standing, and potential risks.
—Andrea Guerzoni, Fortune, 21 Sep. 2023
Zelenskyy went on to say that the U.N.'s inability to meaningfully intervene in the conflict had greatly diminished its standing.
—Shannon K. Crawford, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2023
In his appearance before Congress, which drew a standing ovation, Mr. Zelensky presented the Democratic congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris with a Ukrainian flag signed by soldiers fighting in Bakhmut.
—Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2023
With the top finishers from last year all facing one another in the first half of district play, barring any major developments, the 7-6A playoff standings will be virtually set by the end of the month with Friday’s game playing a significant role in that.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas News, 19 Sep. 2023
In reality, the twin celebrations are yet one more sign that at age 77, the man who dedicated his career to probing the furthest boundaries of bad taste is now widely acknowledged to be an upright citizen of good social standing and an artist whose work merits scholarly scrutiny.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 18 Sep. 2023
The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Sep. 2023
Toward the end of the event the audience gave her a standing ovation, according to People.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN, 19 Sep. 2023
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Adjective
Setting off the parade of surprises, emotional moments and multiple standing ovations was the first award presentation to Epic Records chairwoman and CEO Sylvia Rhone.
—Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2023
Priscilla, one of the buzziest films heading into this year’s Venice Film Festival, finally had its world premiere in competition on the Lido, receiving a rapturous seven-minute 30-second standing ovation for its director Sofia Coppola, young leads and the inspiration herself, Priscilla Presley.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2023
The movie, mostly set on a submarine, landed a brief 90-second standing ovation as actor Pierfrancesco Favino — who plays naval officer Salvatore Todaro — took a bow.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 30 Aug. 2023
Read full article Betts was greeted by another standing ovation before his first at-bat Saturday.
—Julian McWilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2023
The group wowed the judges, earning a standing ovation with its series of high-flying flips and intricate balancing acts.
—USA TODAY, 21 June 2023
Tulsa Superintendent Deborah Gist receives a standing ovation after a mutual separation agreement between her and Tulsa Public Schools was announced.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 25 Aug. 2023
Making no secret of its intention to prosecute Tusk himself, Law and Justice has created a new standing Commission to Investigate Russian Influence, signed into law by Duda on May 29.
—Foreign Affairs, 24 July 2023
Congress has often made standing appropriations that aren’t subject to periodic renewal, most notably for Social Security payments.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 20 July 2023
Noun
Stapleton talked to Rolling Stone about Henderson’s influence on his songwriting in a 2017 interview and recalled how the friends had a standing writing appointment on Tuesday nights.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2023
CEOs can now make informed decisions with a comprehensive understanding of a target company’s health, market standing, and potential risks.
—Andrea Guerzoni, Fortune, 21 Sep. 2023
Zelenskyy went on to say that the U.N.'s inability to meaningfully intervene in the conflict had greatly diminished its standing.
—Shannon K. Crawford, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2023
In his appearance before Congress, which drew a standing ovation, Mr. Zelensky presented the Democratic congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris with a Ukrainian flag signed by soldiers fighting in Bakhmut.
—Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2023
With the top finishers from last year all facing one another in the first half of district play, barring any major developments, the 7-6A playoff standings will be virtually set by the end of the month with Friday’s game playing a significant role in that.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas News, 19 Sep. 2023
In reality, the twin celebrations are yet one more sign that at age 77, the man who dedicated his career to probing the furthest boundaries of bad taste is now widely acknowledged to be an upright citizen of good social standing and an artist whose work merits scholarly scrutiny.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 18 Sep. 2023
The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 Sep. 2023
Toward the end of the event the audience gave her a standing ovation, according to People.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN, 19 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'standing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing standing
Dictionary Entries Near standing
Cite this Entry
“Standing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standing. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
standing
2 of 2 noun1
: the action or position of one that stands
2
: length of existence or service : duration
a quarrel of long standing
3
a
: position or rank as compared with others
had the highest standing in the class
b
: good reputation
people of standing in the community
Legal Definition
standing
1 of 2 adjective
stand·ing
: continuing in existence, use, or effect indefinitely
a standing order
standing
2 of 2 noun1
: the status of being qualified to assert or enforce legal rights or duties in a judicial forum because one has a sufficient and protectable interest in the outcome of a justiciable controversy and usually has suffered or is threatened with actual injury
only one who already has standing can argue the public interest in support of his claim—Hawaii's Thousand Friends v. Anderson, 768 P.2d 1293 (1989)
Hawaii's Thousand Friends v. Anderson, 768 P.2d 1293 (1989)2
: a principle requiring that a party have standing in order to justify the exercise of the court's remedial powers
More from Merriam-Webster on standing
Nglish: Translation of standing for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of standing for Arabic Speakers
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