2
: performed in, performing in, or requiring a standing position
a stand-up bar
especially
: of, relating to, performing, or being a monologue of jokes, gags, or satirical comments delivered usually while standing alone on a stage or in front of a camera
stand-up comedy
a stand-up comedian
3
: marked by a high degree of personal integrity or loyalty
a stand-up guy
1
: stand-up comedy
also
: a performer of such comedy
2
: a television broadcast in which the reporter or narrator faces the camera with the scene of the story in the background
stood up; standing up; stands up
1
: to rise to a standing position
2
: to remain sound and intact under stress, attack, or close scrutiny
: to fail to keep an appointment with
Synonyms
Examples of stand-up in a Sentence
Verb
a hypothesis that won't stand up to close analysis
Recent Examples on the Web
Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
How many people from TikTok or Instagram reels are even making it as a stand-up comedian?
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
Holt believes that this event is necessary to bring together not just the Black comics of Kansas City but also to create a new market that appreciates not just stand-up comedy, but other forms of the art as well.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2024
For so many people, stand-up is literally the recipe for a nightmare.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2024
The high-end watersports club offers kitesurfing lessons, equipment rental, snorkeling, stand-up paddleboards, and kayaks (including glass-bottom kayaks).
—Jackie Caradonio, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2024
Both were fantastic, as the guys do a great job mixing in stand-up and including stories (as well as clips) from their TV series.
—David Wysong, The Enquirer, 22 Apr. 2024
Who is Richard Gadd? Gadd is a Scottish comedian who started his career doing stand-up comedy.
—Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
Inspectors observed a total of three live adult German cockroaches at the grocery store, including one near a back door by a stand-up refrigerator and another on the ceiling near the registers.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 19 Apr. 2024
Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2023
Kemp’s infectious smile and, by all accounts, stand-up status as a teammate put him on the list.
—James Yasko, Chron, 24 Mar. 2023
John Mulaney is making a comeback to stand-up with his latest special, John Mulaney: Baby J. (His last special was released five years ago in 2018.
—Amanda Curran, Glamour, 22 Mar. 2023
Amazon Prime Video's comedy that follows the life of a stand-up comedian in the 1960s will end with its fifth season, which premieres on April 14.
—Brendan Morrow, The Week, 20 Mar. 2023
Sandler did his first stand-up at 17 at an open mic in Boston.
—Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2023
Rodgers said that Hawk suggested McAfee as an emergency fill-in for a golf tournament team, and McAfee agreed to do it even while in the midst of a stand-up comedy tour.
—Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2023
President Zelensky, the most important person standing up for freedom, was a stand-up comic.
—Rob Tannenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2023
In addition, Laugh Out Loud Radio on SiriusXM will exclusively premiere Bernie Mac’s first-ever solo full-length stand-up album.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 15 Mar. 2023
Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
Inventive solutions: Some people have built off-the-grid homes from trash to stand up to a changing climate.
—Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Read about his road to recovery and how his mother is standing up for moms whose kids didn't make it.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024
But rather than raising anxieties about a sprawling global war, the U.S. must soberly meet this moment by standing up to Iran.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
It will be released in July, and has problem-solving features such as a polyurethane outsole to stand up to more destructive tricks.
—Adrienne So, WIRED, 17 Apr. 2024
John Gilbert, who farms in Iowa Falls, Iowa, with limited use of Roundup, called Republicans hypocritical for attempting to protect corporate interests after campaigning on standing up for Iowans.
—Hannah Fingerhut and David A. Lieb, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
In stand up comedy, Bachelor’s Truth or Dare tour played in various U.S. cities over the last two years coming out of the pandemic.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Apr. 2024
The driver then stood up to hold onto the steering wheel, but the bus tipped onto two wheels.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Growing up watching stand-up at his parent’s comedy club, the HaHa in North Hollywood, punchlines are in his blood.
—Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
How many people from TikTok or Instagram reels are even making it as a stand-up comedian?
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
Holt believes that this event is necessary to bring together not just the Black comics of Kansas City but also to create a new market that appreciates not just stand-up comedy, but other forms of the art as well.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2024
For so many people, stand-up is literally the recipe for a nightmare.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2024
The high-end watersports club offers kitesurfing lessons, equipment rental, snorkeling, stand-up paddleboards, and kayaks (including glass-bottom kayaks).
—Jackie Caradonio, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2024
Both were fantastic, as the guys do a great job mixing in stand-up and including stories (as well as clips) from their TV series.
—David Wysong, The Enquirer, 22 Apr. 2024
Who is Richard Gadd? Gadd is a Scottish comedian who started his career doing stand-up comedy.
—Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
Inspectors observed a total of three live adult German cockroaches at the grocery store, including one near a back door by a stand-up refrigerator and another on the ceiling near the registers.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 19 Apr. 2024
Noun
In this post-season glow, performing stand-up across the country, the two cast members were about to conjure two of their most popular characters on the show.
—Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2023
Kemp’s infectious smile and, by all accounts, stand-up status as a teammate put him on the list.
—James Yasko, Chron, 24 Mar. 2023
John Mulaney is making a comeback to stand-up with his latest special, John Mulaney: Baby J. (His last special was released five years ago in 2018.
—Amanda Curran, Glamour, 22 Mar. 2023
Amazon Prime Video's comedy that follows the life of a stand-up comedian in the 1960s will end with its fifth season, which premieres on April 14.
—Brendan Morrow, The Week, 20 Mar. 2023
Sandler did his first stand-up at 17 at an open mic in Boston.
—Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2023
Rodgers said that Hawk suggested McAfee as an emergency fill-in for a golf tournament team, and McAfee agreed to do it even while in the midst of a stand-up comedy tour.
—Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2023
President Zelensky, the most important person standing up for freedom, was a stand-up comic.
—Rob Tannenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2023
In addition, Laugh Out Loud Radio on SiriusXM will exclusively premiere Bernie Mac’s first-ever solo full-length stand-up album.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 15 Mar. 2023
Verb
Oakland succeeded in standing up to a selfish, greedy and manipulative businessman who happens to own a baseball team that millions loved.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
Inventive solutions: Some people have built off-the-grid homes from trash to stand up to a changing climate.
—Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Read about his road to recovery and how his mother is standing up for moms whose kids didn't make it.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024
But rather than raising anxieties about a sprawling global war, the U.S. must soberly meet this moment by standing up to Iran.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
It will be released in July, and has problem-solving features such as a polyurethane outsole to stand up to more destructive tricks.
—Adrienne So, WIRED, 17 Apr. 2024
John Gilbert, who farms in Iowa Falls, Iowa, with limited use of Roundup, called Republicans hypocritical for attempting to protect corporate interests after campaigning on standing up for Iowans.
—Hannah Fingerhut and David A. Lieb, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
In stand up comedy, Bachelor’s Truth or Dare tour played in various U.S. cities over the last two years coming out of the pandemic.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Apr. 2024
The driver then stood up to hold onto the steering wheel, but the bus tipped onto two wheels.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stand-up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near stand-up
Cite this Entry
“Stand-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stand-up. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
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