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
Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
But he’s well practiced at this by now: Youssef’s most recent stand-up special, More Feelings, is an hourlong master class in this same kind of stage work, expanding on the themes of faith, loss, love, political anguish and Arab American identity that Youssef touched on on SNL.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2024
And yet, for the back half of the 1970s, Martin virtually was stand-up comedy — a guy in a white suit, with prematurely gray hair, who somehow managed to turn a club set involving banjo solos, balloon animals and 10 tons of irony into a cultural phenomena.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
Fans are speculating online that this is comedian Bo Burnham, who directed Carmichael’s Emmy-winning stand-up special.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 31 Mar. 2024
In 2006’s Joy in the Hood, Bishop traveled to disadvantaged areas all around Ireland to teach stand-up comedy.
—Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024
After starting her career as a stand-up comedian, Behar went on to star in several TV and film projects, including Baby Boom in the 1980s and 1993’s Manhattan Murder Mystery.
—Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Mar. 2024
The Santa Monica resident sees herself as a stand-up first and producer second.
—Julie Seabaugh, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Almost immediately, Twitter users and journalists began sharing a slew of his old homophobic tweets and stand-up bits.
—Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 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
Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
All activities will be done standing up, and supplies and tools will be provided in addition to snacks, lunch and a bottle of water.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024
That's the moment when, one recent evening, a climate activist stood up from his seat in the audience.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
While many Blue Stem forms have a hard time standing up in the garden, ‘Standing Ovation’ stands tall.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 5 Apr. 2024
That sudden shift, Jain said, owes itself partly to the language of these new laws which would have previously struggled to stand up to legal scrutiny.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
One of the victims’ lawyers stood up and shouted that Erarslan should be kicked out of the courtroom.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024
John stood up for the downtrodden, as cliché as that might sound.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
Two companions soon stood up and began shouting about the perils of a warming planet.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2024
Adjective
That taste of stand-up prompted Iglesias to quit his well-paying cellphone salesman job.
—Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
But he’s well practiced at this by now: Youssef’s most recent stand-up special, More Feelings, is an hourlong master class in this same kind of stage work, expanding on the themes of faith, loss, love, political anguish and Arab American identity that Youssef touched on on SNL.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2024
And yet, for the back half of the 1970s, Martin virtually was stand-up comedy — a guy in a white suit, with prematurely gray hair, who somehow managed to turn a club set involving banjo solos, balloon animals and 10 tons of irony into a cultural phenomena.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024
Fans are speculating online that this is comedian Bo Burnham, who directed Carmichael’s Emmy-winning stand-up special.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 31 Mar. 2024
In 2006’s Joy in the Hood, Bishop traveled to disadvantaged areas all around Ireland to teach stand-up comedy.
—Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024
After starting her career as a stand-up comedian, Behar went on to star in several TV and film projects, including Baby Boom in the 1980s and 1993’s Manhattan Murder Mystery.
—Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Mar. 2024
The Santa Monica resident sees herself as a stand-up first and producer second.
—Julie Seabaugh, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Almost immediately, Twitter users and journalists began sharing a slew of his old homophobic tweets and stand-up bits.
—Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 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
The driver then stood up to hold onto the steering wheel, but the bus tipped onto two wheels.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
All activities will be done standing up, and supplies and tools will be provided in addition to snacks, lunch and a bottle of water.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024
That's the moment when, one recent evening, a climate activist stood up from his seat in the audience.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024
While many Blue Stem forms have a hard time standing up in the garden, ‘Standing Ovation’ stands tall.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 5 Apr. 2024
That sudden shift, Jain said, owes itself partly to the language of these new laws which would have previously struggled to stand up to legal scrutiny.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
One of the victims’ lawyers stood up and shouted that Erarslan should be kicked out of the courtroom.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024
John stood up for the downtrodden, as cliché as that might sound.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
Two companions soon stood up and began shouting about the perils of a warming planet.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 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.
Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Noun
1954, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of stand-up was
before the 12th century
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 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
stand up
verb1
: to rise to a standing position
2
: to remain in good condition
stands up to repeated washings
3
: to fail to keep an appointment with
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