stand-in

1 of 2

noun

ˈstand-ˌin 

1

: someone employed to occupy an actor's place while lights and camera are readied

2

: substitute

stand in

2 of 2

verb

stood in; standing in; stands in

intransitive verb

: to act as a stand-in

see also:

stand in with

Synonyms of stand-in

Noun

• substitute
• replacement

Verb

• substitute
• fill in
• step in
• take over

Examples of stand-in in a Sentence

Noun

hired him at the last minute as a stand-in for the person who quit

Verb

she will be standing in for the regular teacher for a week

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Butternut squash works as a stand-in for canned pumpkin too, since the squash varieties used in most US brands are closer to butternut than to carving pumpkins. — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026

And a data center is an easy stand-in for bigger fears about AI, climate change, jobs and big tech. — Adhum Carter Wolde-Lule, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Verb

Egor Dëmin stood in the Nets’ locker room in a white compression top, a red band around his wrist, taking a drink before the questions began. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Egyptology enthusiasts and other visitors stood in a messy single-file line with phone cameras in hand, some with selfie sticks and most with bags under their eyes from waking up so early. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1904, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stand-in

• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• crankpin
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• kingpin
• linchpin
• pigskin

Kids Definition

stand-in

1 of 2 noun

ˈstan-ˌdin

1

: someone employed to occupy an actor's place while lights and camera are readied

2

: substitute entry 1

stand in

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)stan-ˈdin

: to act as a stand-in