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
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Nik Popli, Time, 11 Apr. 2025
Read Next World Local’s theory about ancient standing stone in UK forest turns out to be true.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
The Editors, National Review, 29 Apr. 2025
A week later, the R&A, which governs the British Open, approved their own exemption category for LIV players to qualify for the Open, based on their season standings.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standing
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.
Adjective
Abrego García, 29, was deported on March 15 despite a standing immigration court ruling from 2019 barring his removal to El Salvador due to credible threats from gangs targeting his family’s pupusa business.
—Nik Popli, Time, 11 Apr. 2025
Read Next World Local’s theory about ancient standing stone in UK forest turns out to be true.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
The state of the economy and Trump’s political standing in the medium term will be largely determined by whether Trump can Houdini his way out of a tariff straitjacket of his own fashioning.
—The Editors, National Review, 29 Apr. 2025
A week later, the R&A, which governs the British Open, approved their own exemption category for LIV players to qualify for the Open, based on their season standings.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standing
Cite this Entry
“Standing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standing. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share