stand

verb

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\ ˈstand

stood\ ˈstu̇d

\; standing

Definition of stand

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : to support oneself on the feet in an erect position

b : to be a specified height when fully erect stands six feet two

c : to rise to an erect position

2a : to take up or maintain a specified position or posture stand aside can you stand on your head

b : to maintain one's position stand firm

3 : to be in a particular state or situation stands accused

4 : to hold a course at sea

5 obsolete : hesitate

6a : to have or maintain a relative position in or as if in a graded scale stands first in the class

b : to be in a position to gain or lose because of an action taken or a commitment made stands to make quite a profit

7 chiefly British : to be a candidate : run

8a : to rest or remain upright on a base or lower end a clock stood on the mantle

b : to occupy a place or location the house stands on a knoll

9a : to remain stationary or inactive the car stood in the garage for a week

b : to gather slowly and remain tears standing in her eyes

10 : agree, accord —used chiefly in the expression it stands to reason

11a : to exist in a definite written or printed form copy a passage exactly as it stands

b : to remain valid or efficacious the order given last week still stands

12 of a male animal : to be available as a sire —used especially of horses

13 : to refuse additional cards (as in blackjack)

transitive verb

1a : to endure or undergo successfully this book will stand the test of time

b : to tolerate without flinching : bear courageously stands pain well

c : to endure the presence or personality of can't stand the boss

d : to derive benefit or enjoyment from you look like you could stand a drink

2 : to remain firm in the face of stand a siege

3 : to submit to stand trial

4a : to perform the duty of stand guard

b : to participate in (a military formation)

5 : to pay the cost of (a treat) : pay for I'll stand you a dinner stand drinks

6 : to cause to stand : set upright

7 : to make available for breeding stand a stallion

stand a chance

: to have a chance

stand for

1 : to be a symbol for : represent

2 : to put up with : permit

stand on

1 : to depend on

2 : to insist on never stands on ceremony

stand one's ground

: to maintain one's position

stand on one's own feet

: to think or act independently

stand tall

: to exhibit courage, strength, or calm especially in the face of adversity

stand treat

: to pay the cost of food, drink, or entertainment for others in a group

stand

noun

Definition of stand (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : a halt for defense or resistance

b : an often defensive effort of some duration or degree of success a goal-line stand

c(1) : a stop made to give a performance a 6-game stand at home

(2) : a town where such a stop is made

2 : an act of stopping or staying in one place

3a : a place or post where one stands

b : a strongly or aggressively held position especially on a debatable issue took a stand against higher taxes

4a : the place taken by a witness for testifying in court

b stands plural

(1) : a section of the tiered seats for spectators of a sport or spectacle

(2) : the occupants of such seats

c : a raised platform (as for a speaker or hunter) serving as a point of vantage

5a : a small often open-air structure for a small retail business a vegetable stand a hot dog stand

b : a site fit for business opportunity

6 : a place where a passenger vehicle stops or parks a taxi stand

7 : hive sense 2

8 : a frame on or in which something may be placed for support

9 : a group of plants growing in a continuous area

10 : a standing posture

Other Words from stand Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing stand Learn More About stand

Synonyms for stand

Synonyms: Verb

Synonyms: Noun

Choose the Right Synonym for stand

Verb

bear, suffer, endure, abide, tolerate, stand mean to put up with something trying or painful. bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking. forced to bear a tragic loss suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing. suffering many insults endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties. endured years of rejection abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest. cannot abide their rudeness tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful. refused to tolerate such treatment stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching. unable to stand teasing

Examples of stand in a Sentence

Verb She was standing near the window. He was standing next to me. All of the seats on the bus were taken so we had to stand. He can stand using a cane. He was standing in a puddle of water. The deer stood still, listening for danger. We had to stand in line for over an hour. Two bowling pins were left standing. A shovel and rake stood in the corner. She stood the ladder against the house. Noun The team insured their victory with an impressive goal-line stand. The army is preparing to make a stand against the enemy. students making a stand against the war We have display stands in many bookstores. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb What Riley has already built over the course of a single offseason will stand as an early case study for program building in the age of the transfer portal. — Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022 The Empire is at the helm, but a rumble begins throughout the citizens who simply won't stand for their oppression any longer. — Shafiq Najib, Peoplemag, 3 Aug. 2022 Fully assembled, the Lego Atari 2600 will stand just over 3 inches high. — Andy Meek, BGR, 1 Aug. 2022 The Empire is at the helm, but a rumble begins throughout the citizens who simply won't stand for their oppression any longer. — Kelly Wynne, PEOPLE.com, 1 Aug. 2022 The data and analytics office is changing, and organizations that evolve will stand to gain a tremendous amount of long-term value. — Rogayeh Tabrizi, Forbes, 1 Aug. 2022 Standing Thursday morning on the second-floor balcony of the new Tom and Mary Tomlinson Vocational Center, Kilmer looked out over the large construction site and pointed out where each new building will stand. — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2022 On Thursday, a judge ruled that the one man who has so far been charged under the new laws will stand trial. — Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 28 July 2022 The new store will stand as Kentucky's second J. Crew Factory shop. — The Courier-Journal, 27 July 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun That wasn’t the first time Michels took a stand against negative ads. — Scott Bauer, Journal Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2022 Alex Jones on the stand, told to pay up: The Infowars founder and conspiracy monger took the stand in a defamation trial in Austin, Texas, with often explosive results. — Will Carless, USA TODAY, 5 Aug. 2022 Heslin, who took the stand before Jones arrived at the Travis County Courthouse in Austin on Tuesday, spoke of his grief — compounded with death threats and abuse from strangers that led the parents to fear for their own lives. — Adela Suliman, Washington Post, 3 Aug. 2022 Meadow Pollack and Martin Duque, both students, and Aaron Feis, the assistant football coach, also took the stand to try to explain the loss. — Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2022 Jones later took the stand himself, initially being combative with the judge who had asked him to answer his attorney’s question. — Jim Vertuno, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Aug. 2022 Nikolas Cruz walked into a McDonald's and sat with the brother of one of his victims after the Parkland shooting, surveillance video shows Victoria Gonzalez also took the stand Tuesday. — Dakin Andone, CNN, 2 Aug. 2022 Broward Sheriff’s Detective Ron Faircloth then took the stand to testify more about the defendant’s web search history. — al, 1 Aug. 2022 Amiott took the stand on Wednesday and accused Hubbard of resisting arrest, WJW Channel 8 reports. — Kaylee Remington, cleveland, 29 July 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stand.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Learn More About stand

Dictionary Entries Near stand

stanchless

stand

stand accused of

Statistics for stand

Last Updated

9 Aug 2022

Cite this Entry

“Stand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stand. Accessed 16 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for stand

stand

verb

\ ˈstand

stood\ ˈstu̇d \; standing

Kids Definition of stand

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to be in or take an upright position on the feet Stand for the pledge.

2 : to take up or stay in a specified position or condition Stand aside. The judges stood firm.

3 : to rest, remain, or set in a usually vertical position A clock stands on the shelf.

4 : to be in a specified place Their house stands on the hill.

5 : to put up with : endure He can't stand pain.

6 : to have an opinion How do you stand on the issue?

7 : to stay in effect The order still stands.

8 : undergo stand trial

9 : to perform the duty of stand guard

stand by

1 : to be or remain loyal or true to I stand by my promise. He stood by a friend.

2 : to be present We stood by and watched the fight.

3 : to be or get ready to act I'll stand by to help.

stand for

1 : to be a symbol for : represent What does your middle initial stand for?

2 : to put up with : permit His teacher won't stand for any nonsense.

stand out

: to be easily seen or recognized Two members of the bodyguard did stand out from the others.— Judith Berry Griffin, Phoebe the Spy

stand up

1 : to stay in good condition This type of watch stands up well under hard use.

2 : to fail to keep an appointment with You stood me up yesterday.

stand up for

: defend sense 2

stand up to

: to face boldly

stand

noun

Kids Definition of stand (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a structure containing rows of seats for spectators of a sport or spectacle

2 : a stall or booth often outdoors for a small business a fruit stand

3 : position entry 1 sense 2 They took a strong stand on the question.

4 : a group of plants growing near one another a stand of pine trees

5 : an act of stopping or staying in one place

6 : a halt for defense or resistance Villagers made a stand against the enemy.

7 : a place or post which a person occupies : station The witness took the stand.

8 : a small structure (as a rack or table) on or in which something may be placed an umbrella stand

9 : a raised area (as for speakers or performers)

stand

verb

stood; standing

Legal Definition of stand

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to be in a particular state or situation stand accused

2 : to remain valid or effective let the ruling stand

transitive verb

: to submit to stand trial

stand in judgment

: to submit to the judgment of the court

stand in the shoes of

: to assume the rights or obligations of

stand mute

: to be effectively silent: as

a : to exercise the privilege against self-incrimination (as in a trial)

b : to raise no objections the prosecution agreed to stand mute at the sentencing

stand on

: to depend on especially as the basis of an argument or claim a party who stands on the writing as a complete and exclusive embodiment of the contract— J. J. White and R. S. Summers

stand

noun

Legal Definition of stand (Entry 2 of 2)