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
Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
The first film served as a moody origin story for the Joker, a struggling stand-up comedian and part-time clown named Arthur Fleck.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
Jay Leno and Wife Mavis Enjoy Night Out at Comedy Show amid Her Dementia Struggles
The update comes after the former Tonight Show host brought Mavis to his stand-up show at the Hollywood Improv comedy club in WeHo last week.
—Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
As stand-up comics flood Los Angeles, Netflix Is a Joke Fest will feature comedians Chris Rock, David Letterman, Jerry Seinfeld, Hannah Gadsby, and Seth Rogen.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
The comedian has set her first stand-up comedy special for the streamer behind the hit show.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
Though representation has lagged for Arab stand-up comedians, Zayid notes that many famous American comedy actors were of Arab descent: Marlo Thomas, her father Danny Thomas, Victor E. Tayback, and Tony Shalhoub.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 4 Apr. 2024
The same year, Seinfeld released his first original stand-up routine since 1998 for his Netflix special, 23 Hours to Kill.
—Dustin Nelson, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024
That taste of stand-up prompted Iglesias to quit his well-paying cellphone salesman job.
—Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 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
Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
Inventive solutions: Some people have built off-the-grid homes from trash to stand up to a changing climate.
—Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Read about his road to recovery and how his mother is standing up for moms whose kids didn't make it.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024
But rather than raising anxieties about a sprawling global war, the U.S. must soberly meet this moment by standing up to Iran.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
It will be released in July, and has problem-solving features such as a polyurethane outsole to stand up to more destructive tricks.
—Adrienne So, WIRED, 17 Apr. 2024
John Gilbert, who farms in Iowa Falls, Iowa, with limited use of Roundup, called Republicans hypocritical for attempting to protect corporate interests after campaigning on standing up for Iowans.
—Hannah Fingerhut and David A. Lieb, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
In stand up comedy, Bachelor’s Truth or Dare tour played in various U.S. cities over the last two years coming out of the pandemic.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Apr. 2024
The driver then stood up to hold onto the steering wheel, but the bus tipped onto two wheels.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
Adjective
The only weak link in the family is Williams, a stand-up comedian whose small, underwritten part as mom to the Crandell kids doesn’t play to her strengths.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
The first film served as a moody origin story for the Joker, a struggling stand-up comedian and part-time clown named Arthur Fleck.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
Jay Leno and Wife Mavis Enjoy Night Out at Comedy Show amid Her Dementia Struggles
The update comes after the former Tonight Show host brought Mavis to his stand-up show at the Hollywood Improv comedy club in WeHo last week.
—Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
As stand-up comics flood Los Angeles, Netflix Is a Joke Fest will feature comedians Chris Rock, David Letterman, Jerry Seinfeld, Hannah Gadsby, and Seth Rogen.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024
The comedian has set her first stand-up comedy special for the streamer behind the hit show.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
Though representation has lagged for Arab stand-up comedians, Zayid notes that many famous American comedy actors were of Arab descent: Marlo Thomas, her father Danny Thomas, Victor E. Tayback, and Tony Shalhoub.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 4 Apr. 2024
The same year, Seinfeld released his first original stand-up routine since 1998 for his Netflix special, 23 Hours to Kill.
—Dustin Nelson, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024
That taste of stand-up prompted Iglesias to quit his well-paying cellphone salesman job.
—Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 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
Oakland succeeded in standing up to a selfish, greedy and manipulative businessman who happens to own a baseball team that millions loved.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
Inventive solutions: Some people have built off-the-grid homes from trash to stand up to a changing climate.
—Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Read about his road to recovery and how his mother is standing up for moms whose kids didn't make it.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024
But rather than raising anxieties about a sprawling global war, the U.S. must soberly meet this moment by standing up to Iran.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
It will be released in July, and has problem-solving features such as a polyurethane outsole to stand up to more destructive tricks.
—Adrienne So, WIRED, 17 Apr. 2024
John Gilbert, who farms in Iowa Falls, Iowa, with limited use of Roundup, called Republicans hypocritical for attempting to protect corporate interests after campaigning on standing up for Iowans.
—Hannah Fingerhut and David A. Lieb, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
In stand up comedy, Bachelor’s Truth or Dare tour played in various U.S. cities over the last two years coming out of the pandemic.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Apr. 2024
The driver then stood up to hold onto the steering wheel, but the bus tipped onto two wheels.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 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.
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 23 Apr. 2024.
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