stand

1 of 2

verb

ˈstand 

stood ˈstu̇d  ; standing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to support oneself on the feet in an erect position

was standing by the door

All the seats were taken so we had to stand.

Everyone was just standing around [=standing without doing anything] waiting for the stadium to open.

b

: to be a specified height when fully erect

stands six feet two

c

: to rise to an erect position

stand for the national anthem

2

a

: to take up or maintain a specified position or posture

A mansion stands on the hill.

can you stand on your head

—often used figuratively

A single putt stands between her and the title. [=if she makes the putt, she will win the title]

We won't stand in your way. [=won't try to stop you]

Nothing will stand in the way of our happiness. [=prevent us from being happy]

b

: to maintain one's position

stand firm

3

: to be in a particular state or situation

Where do we stand financially?

He stands accused of the crime.

She stands alone in her opposition to the proposal. [=she is the only one who opposes the proposal]

4

: to hold a course at sea

5

obsolete : hesitate

6

a

: 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

8

a

: to rest or remain upright on a base or lower end

A clock stood on the mantle.

Two bowling pins were left standing.

b

: to occupy a place or location

The house stands on a knoll.

9

a

: to remain stationary or inactive

stood still

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

11

a

: 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.

c

: to exist at the present time

Here's how things stand.

Take or leave the offer as it stands.

12

: to have a particular belief or opinion

How do you stand on the issue?

We ask you to stand with us.

13

of a male animal : to be available as a sire

—used especially of horses

14

: to refuse additional cards (as in blackjack)

transitive verb

1

a

: to endure or undergo successfully

These plants can stand dry conditions.

This book will stand the test of time. [=will be read by many people for a long time]

b

: to tolerate without complaint : bear courageously

Can you stand to wait another minute?

couldn't stand the pain

His behavior was more than I could stand.

I can't stand the thought/idea of moving again. [=I dislike the thought/idea of moving again very much]

c

—used to say that someone strongly dislikes a person or thing

I can't stand the boss.

I can't stand doing dishes.

d

: to derive benefit or enjoyment from

You look like you could stand a vacation.

The tree could stand to be trimmed.

2

: to remain firm in the face of

stand a siege

3

: to submit to

stand trial

4

a

: 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

stood the ladder against the house

7

: to make available for breeding

stand a stallion

stander noun

stand

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a halt for defense or resistance

made a stand against the enemy

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

3

a

: 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

4

a

: 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

5

a

: 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

a bike stand

9

: a group of plants growing in a continuous area

a stand of oak

10

: a standing posture

Phrases

stand a chance

: to have a chance

stand aside

1

: to move to the left or right with one or a few small steps

Please stand aside and let the EMTs pass.

2

: to allow something to happen without trying to stop it

I won't stand aside and let you ruin your life.

stand behind

: support

I'll stand behind you in whatever you decide.

stand for

1

: to be a symbol for : represent

The symbol @ stands for "at."

2

: to put up with : permit

won't stand for such nonsense

3

: to acknowledge or declare as a guiding principle or ideal

The political party has always stood for free trade.

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

Synonyms of stand

Verb

• sit
• be
• lie

Noun

• podium
• platform

Choose the Right Synonym for stand

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

As of October 2025, the official Palestinian death toll from the last two years stands at more than 68,000 people, at least 80 percent of them civilians. —Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025

The crisis, which currently stands as the second-longest government shutdown, could break new records this week if lawmakers don't come to an agreement to fund federal agencies. —Terry Moseley, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025

Noun

Read this book aloud to your favorite young dancer, and then join me at the concession stand for a Carrot Cordial or a few Lettuce Linzers. —Caroline Carlson, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025

Venus and Chiron’s stand-off reopens an old romantic wound. —Usa Today, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English standan; akin to Old High German stantan, stān to stand, Latin stare, Greek histanai to cause to stand, set, histasthai to stand, be standing

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing stand

• a leg to stand on
• are/stand head and shoulders above
• cannot/can't stand
• can't stand
• can't stand the thought/idea
• concession stand
• home stand
• if you can't stand/take the heat, get out of the kitchen
• jack stand
• make one's hair stand on end
• more than I could stand
• music stand
• not have a leg to stand on
• one-night stand
• on the stand
• ring stand
• stand accused of
• stand a chance of
• stand-alone
• stand around
• stand at attention
• stand at/by someone's side
• stand back
• stand between
• stand by
• stand down
• stand/face trial
• stand firm
• stand guard/watch
• stand high/low with (someone)
• stand idly by
• stand in
• stand in someone's way
• stand in striking contrast to/with
• stand in with
• stand in your way
• stand mixer
• stand off
• stand oil
• stand on ceremony
• stand on one's head/hands
• stand on one's own two feet
• stand or fall
• stand out
• stand out from the crowd
• stand out from the pack
• stand pat
• stand sentinel
• stand sentry
• stand someone/something in good stead
• stand/stick out a mile
• stand surety
• stand to attention
• stand to reason
• stand trial
• stand up
• stand up and be counted
• stand up for
• stand-upper
• stand up to
• stand up with
• stand your ground law
• stick/stand out like a sore thumb
• take a stand
• take the stand
• taxi stand
• the stand
• to stand one in good stead
• witness stand

Rhymes for stand

• band
• banned
• bland
• brand
• canned
• fanned
• gland
• lande
• mande
• manned
• panned
• planned

Kids Definition

stand

1 of 2 verb

ˈstand 

stood ˈstu̇d  ; standing

1

a

: 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 one's feet

2

: to take up and keep a usually specified position or attitude

stand aside

can you stand on your head

where do we stand on this question

3

: to be in a particular state or situation

stands accused

4

chiefly British : to be a candidate : run

5

a

: to have a relative position in or as if in a scale

stands first in the class

b

: to be in a position to gain or lose

stands to make a profit

6

a

: to rest, remain, or set upright on a base or lower end

a ladder standing against a wall

b

: to occupy a place or location

a house standing on a hill

7

a

: to remain without moving

rainwater standing in stagnant pools

b

: to remain in effect

the order stands

8

: to exist in a certain form

you must take or leave our offer as it stands

9

a

: to put up with or resist successfully : bear

stand pain

the building stood the pressure of the storm

this book will stand the test of time

b

: to derive benefit or enjoyment from

you look like you could stand some sleep

c

: to go through the experience of

stand trial

10

: to perform the duty of

stand guard

11

: to pay for

I'll stand dinner

12

: to cause to stand : set upright

stander noun

stand

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act or instance of stopping or staying in one place

2

a

: a halt for defense or resistance

b

: a stop made to give a performance

was booked for a three-night stand

3

a

: a place or post where one stands

b

: a position especially with respect to an issue

took a stand against higher taxes

4

a

: the place occupied by a witness testifying in court

b

: a row of seats for spectators of an outdoor sport or spectacle

c

: a raised platform (as for a speaker)

5

: a small often open-air structure for a small retail business

a hot-dog stand

6

: a support (as a rack or table) on or in which something may be placed

umbrella stands

a bicycle stand

7

: a group of plants growing in a continuous area

a good stand of wheat

Legal Definition

stand

1 of 2 verb

stood; standing

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

2 of 2 noun

: the place taken by a witness for testifying in court

take the stand

compare bar, bench, dock, sidebar