standing

1 of 2

adjective

stand·​ing ˈstan-diŋ 

1

a

: not yet cut or harvested

standing timber

standing grain

b

: upright on the feet or base : erect

the standing audience

2

: not flowing : stagnant

standing water

3

a

: remaining at the same level, degree, or amount for an indeterminate period

a standing offer

b

: continuing in existence or use indefinitely

a standing joke

4

: established by law or custom

5

: not movable

6

: done from a standing position

a standing jump

a standing ovation

standing

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a place to stand in : location

b

: a position from which one may assert or enforce legal rights and duties

2

a

: length of service or experience especially as determining rank, pay, or privilege

b

: position or condition in society or in a profession

especially : good reputation

a member in good standing

c

: position relative to a standard of achievement or to achievements of competitors

also, standings plural : a listing of the standings of individuals or teams (as in a league)

3

: maintenance of position or condition : duration

a custom of long standing

Synonyms

Adjective

• immobile
• nonmoving
• static
• stationary

Noun

• class
• dignity
• fashion
• quality
• rank
• state

Examples of standing in a Sentence

Adjective

Start the exercise in a standing position.

The standing offer for the computer system is $1,499.

Noun

a lawyer of high standing

They've won five games in a row and are starting to move up in the standings.

They're in first place in the current standings.

a marriage of many years' standing

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Instagram posts from the events show crowds giving standing ovations, snapping cellphone photos and, at Clark Atlanta, greeting the cast with a marching band performance. —Leigh-Ann Jackson, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024

Michele received seven standing ovations during her final performance. —Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Mar. 2024

Raye got a standing ovation from Dua Lipa, shout-outs from PinkPantheress and Kylie, and the Album of the Year trophy handed to her by the Brit School’s headmaster. —Amel Mukhtar, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2024

Capacity ranges from 83 seated to 308 for a standing reception. —Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 16 Dec. 2023

The biggest standing ovation of the night came at the show’s end as Tennant announced that Michael J. Fox would present the award for best film — much to the surprise of the audience. —Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2024

There was a standing ovation Friday night at the Signia by Hilton hotel for Matthew Van, who was named the Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley’s Youth of the Year at a festive gala attended by nearly 400 guests. —Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2024

While the performance got a standing ovation in the room, praise online was similarly enthusiastic, especially for Chapman. —Moises Mendez Ii, TIME, 5 Feb. 2024

Seth Meyers has revealed the only episode of Saturday Night Live that got a standing ovation in his 13 years on the show. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 22 Nov. 2023

Noun

De La Salle, which will be aiming to capture its seventh consecutive North Coast Section title next month, has slowly climbed up the league standings. —Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024

To review: Teams that finish 1-6 in the standings in each conference are assured a playoff spot, and the teams that finish 7-10 enter the play-in tournament to battle for the No. 7 and 8 playoff seeds. —Joe Davidson, Sacramento Bee, 17 Apr. 2024

The Milwaukee native and her husband had fallen back in the standings in the last few legs after starting the season with three straight third-place finishes. —Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024

Reid opened his Monday news conference with a general statement regarding Rice’s standing with the team. —Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2024

The Miami Heat, last year’s Finals runner-up, finished eighth in the standings and will visit the Philadelphia 76ers for the chance to take on the Knicks in round one. —Sam Joseph and Jacob Lev, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024

Truex, the Cup Series’ oldest driver, currently sits second in the standings with five Top 10 finishes in eight starts. —Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2024

The Lakers, by playing in the finals of the in-season tournament, played an extra game that didn’t count in the standings. —Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024

Somers had wanted a pay hike that would put her on equal standing with her male costar, Ritter, but was denied. —Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing standing

• (as) sure as I'm standing here
• long-standing
• standing army
• standing committee
• standing crop
• standing joke
• standing O
• standing/open invitation
• standing order
• standing ovation
• standing room
• standing wave

Kids Definition

standing

1 of 2 adjective

stand·​ing ˈstan-diŋ 

1

a

: not yet cut or harvested

standing timber

b

: upright on the feet or base : erect

a standing pose

2

a

: not flowing : stagnant

standing water

b

: remaining at the same level, degree, or amount until canceled

a standing offer

c

: continuing in existence or use for an unlimited length of time : permanent

a standing army

standing committees

3

: done from a standing position

standing jump

a standing ovation

standing

2 of 2 noun

1

: the action or position of one that stands

2

: length of existence or service : duration

a quarrel of long standing

3

a

: position or rank as compared with others

had the highest standing in the class

b

: good reputation

people of standing in the community

Legal Definition

standing

1 of 2 adjective

stand·​ing

: continuing in existence, use, or effect indefinitely

a standing order

standing

2 of 2 noun

1

: the status of being qualified to assert or enforce legal rights or duties in a judicial forum because one has a sufficient and protectable interest in the outcome of a justiciable controversy and usually has suffered or is threatened with actual injury

only one who already has standing can argue the public interest in support of his claim

—Hawaii's Thousand Friends v. Anderson, 768 P.2d 1293 (1989)

2

: a principle requiring that a party have standing in order to justify the exercise of the court's remedial powers