stand

1 of 2

verb

ˈstand 

stood ˈstu̇d  ; standing

intransitive verb

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 an erect position

2

a

: 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

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

b

: to occupy a place or location

the house stands on a knoll

9

a

: 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

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

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

1

a

: 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

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

7

: to make available for breeding

stand a stallion

stander noun

stand

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: 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

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

9

: a group of plants growing in a continuous area

10

: a standing posture

Phrases

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

Synonyms

Verb

• be
• bear
• lie
• sit

Noun

• dais
• platform
• podium
• rostrum
• stage
• tribune

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

Until recently, in all of human history, the number of true cyborgs stood at about 70. —S. I. Rosenbaum, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2024

Through the state’s social equity program, which aims to improve representation in the industry, Prince George’s and its neighboring county Montgomery both stand to gain nine more dispensaries. —Lateshia Beachum, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024

Staying close to its flagship hotel in Hong Kong — and every other Peninsula worldwide — one of the first things guests will notice is the Chinese lions standing high and proud by the entrance doors. —Stacey Wreathall, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2024

For six months after the worst blow to the Jewish state since its founding in 1948, and the worst day for world Jewry since the Holocaust, Biden stood with Israel and defended Israel’s right to self-defense. —Matthew Continetti, National Review, 6 Apr. 2024

Flowering frangipani stand over an Islamic cemetery near its piers, centered around a centuries-old shrine to an Arab pilgrim. —Maahil Mohamed Elke Scholiers, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024

Some 100 yards straight ahead stood a 3,500-pound hippopotamus, staring squarely in our direction. —Alexandra Kirkman, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2024

The next day, just after sunset at a monument known as Salvador del Mundo, situated in a trafficked roundabout in the capital, some seventy feminist protesters stood with banners, chanting slogans about electoral fraud and Fascism. —Danielle MacKey, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2024

The 5th Circuit’s ruling might give them a leg to stand on. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024

Noun

Museums disappear, even when brick-and-mortar stands. —Holland Cotter, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024

The 6,500-capacity arena, which was built for $45 million and opened in 2006, hosted plenty of big acts over the years, including tour kickoffs for Tom Petty and The Killers, as well as massive EDM and jam-band stands. —John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 2 Apr. 2024

Assemble the Cake: Place 1 cake layer on a platter or cake stand; spread 1 cup frosting over top. —Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024

But the lemonade stand remains every American child’s birthright. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024

Entertainment Weekly spoke to McIntosh to get the full scoop on Jadis’ last stand. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 24 Mar. 2024

Driving on a road beside the drained reservoir, Coffman stopped at a small waterfall cascading down a hillside in a thick stand of trees. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024

Along with spring cleaning, lean into spring decorating with deals on home essentials like the Roku Smart Camera, this Better Homes & Gardens coffee table, and the Walker Edison TV stand that’s more than $100 off right now. —Megan Schaltegger, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024

Accelerating climate change, coupled with a century of suppression of wildfire, has created thick stands of trees primed to burn across much of the American West. —ProPublica, 16 Mar. 2024

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

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

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