standing

1 of 2

adjective

stand·​ing ˈstan-diŋ 

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

standing

2 of 2

noun

1

: a place to stand in : location

2

: the status of being qualified to assert or enforce rights in a judicial forum (such as a court) arising from a sufficient and protectable interest in the outcome of a legal case due to suffering or being threatened with actual injury as a result of the actions of the other party

3

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

c

: position relative to a standard of achievement or to achievements of competitors

also, standings plural : a listing of the standings of individuals or teams (as in a league)

4

: maintenance of position or condition : duration

a custom of long standing

Synonyms of standing

Adjective

• static
• motionless
• in place
• stationary
• immobile

Noun

• dignity
• rank
• state

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

Adjective

In 1999, at the Oscars, Elia Kazan was given a lifetime achievement award, and Amy and her husband, Ed Harris, did not stand, did not applaud during the standing ovation. —Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026

Tickets for the fashion show start at $125 for standing room. —Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 18 Feb. 2026

Noun

Cherokee Trail coach Jeff Buck beefed up his feeder program, the Junior Cougars, in order to solidify his program’s standing as a perennial 5A contender. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 22 Feb. 2026

Until the age of 12 in Norway, nobody in youth sports is allowed to keep score, and there are no league standings either. —Don Riddell, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing standing

• (as) sure as I'm standing here
• long-standing
• standing army
• standing around
• standing committee
• standing crop
• standing joke
• standing/keeping guard
• standing O
• standing/open invitation
• standing order
• standing ovation
• standing room
• standing wave

Rhymes for standing

• banding
• branding
• handing
• landing
• sanding
• stranding
• commanding
• demanding
• disbanding
• expanding
• freestanding
• misbranding

Kids Definition

standing

1 of 2 adjective

stand·​ing ˈstan-diŋ 

1

a

: not yet cut or harvested

standing timber

b

: upright on the feet or base : erect

a standing pose

2

a

: not flowing : stagnant

standing water

b

: remaining at the same level, degree, or amount until canceled

a standing offer

c

: continuing in existence or use for an unlimited length of time : permanent

a standing army

standing committees

3

: done from a standing position

standing jump

a standing ovation

standing

2 of 2 noun

1

: 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 noun

1

: 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)

2

: a principle requiring that a party have standing in order to justify the exercise of the court's remedial powers