Meaning of stand in English

stand

verb

/stænd/ us

/stænd/

stood | stood

stand verb (VERTICAL)

to be in a vertical state or to put into a vertical state, especially (of a person or animal) by making the legs straight:

Granny says if she stands for a long time her ankles hurt.

stand (up) As a sign of politeness, you should stand (up) when she comes in.

stand still Stand still and be quiet!

After the earthquake not a single building was left standing in the village.

stand something on something Stand the bottles on the table over there.

See also

stand up

More examplesFewer examples

Don't stand out there in the cold - come in here and get warm.
The audience clapped and cheered when she stood up to speak.
They stood on the street corner handing out leaflets.
We stood huddled together for warmth.
She stood up to address a hushed courtroom.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Sitting and standing

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stand verb (STATE)

C1 [ I, L only + adj ]

to be in, cause to be in, or get into a particular state or situation:

How do you think your chances stand (= are) of being offered the job?

stand at something The national debt stands at 55 billion dollars.

stand empty The house stood empty for years.

Martina is currently standing second in the world listings.

[ + to infinitive ] Our firm stands to lose (= will lose) a lot of money if the deal is unsuccessful.

We really can't allow the current situation to stand (= to exist in its current form).

Newton's laws of mechanics stood (= were thought to be completely true) for over two hundred years.

Leave the mixture to stand (= do not touch it) for 15 minutes before use.

stand in someone's opinion It would be difficult for her to stand much lower/higher in my opinion (= for me to have a worse/better opinion of her) after the way she behaved at the party.

She's very blunt, but at least you know where you stand with her (= you know what she thinks and how she is likely to behave).

stand accused of formal You stand accused of murder, how do you plead?

stand trial

to be put on trial in a law court:

stand trial for Two other men are to stand trial next month for their part in the bombing.

More examplesFewer examples

Inflation currently stands at three percent.
The current total stands at £30,000.
He stands to benefit from the situation.
Eight years later the building stands empty.
The theatre has been left to stand derelict.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Existing and being

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stand verb (PLACE)

B2 [ I or T, usually + adv/prep ]

to be in, cause to be in, or put into a particular place:

The room was empty except for a wardrobe standing in one corner.

Stand the paintings against the wall while we decide where to hang them.

The photograph shows the happy couple standing beside a banana tree.

[ I usually + adv/prep ]

Vehicles that are standing are waiting:

stand at The train now standing at platform 8 is the 15.17 for Cardiff.

no standing US (UK no waiting)

used on signs to mean vehicles are not allowed to park, even for short periods of time:

The sign by the side of the road said "no standing".

More examplesFewer examples

His walking stick stood by the door.
You'll have to stand the sofa on its end to get it through the door.
Could you stand the bookcase against that wall, please?
There was a big chest of drawers standing in one corner.
In the centre of the hall stood a colossal wooden statue, decorated in ivory and gold.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Placing and positioning an object

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Staying and remaining

Waiting

stand verb (ACCEPT)

B1 [ T usually in negatives ]

to successfully accept or bear something that is unpleasant or difficult:

I can't stand her voice.

Our tent won't stand another storm like the last one.

[ + -ing verb ] I can't stand hearing her cry.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to hate someone or something

hateI hate camping.
detestI detest any kind of cruelty.
loathe"Do you like cabbage?" "No, I loathe it."
despiseShe despised him for the way he treated her.

See more results »

More examplesFewer examples

Personally, I can't stand her.
I can't even stand the smell.
I can't stand being cold.
He can't stand the sight of her.
I can't stand the thought of waiting so long.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Tolerating and enduring

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stand verb (POLITICS)

C2 [ I ] UK

(US also UK run)

to compete, especially in an election, for an official position:

stand for The president has announced she does not intend to stand for re-election.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Elections

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stand a chance

to have a chance of success:

stand a chance of She stands a good chance of passing her exam if she works hard.

stand verb (HEIGHT)

[ L only + noun ]

to be a stated height:

Even without his shoes he stood over two metres tall.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

High, tall and deep

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stand verb (BUY)

[ T + two objects ]

to buy something, especially a meal or a drink, for someone:

I couldn't get to the bank, so could you stand me lunch?

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Paying money

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stand verb (OPINION)

C2 [ I usually + adv/prep ]

to have as an opinion:

stand on How/Where does he stand on foreign policy issues?

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Opinions, beliefs and points of view

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stand verb (IN CARD GAME)

[ I ]

in the game of blackjack (= type of card game played for money), to say that you do not want to be given any more cards:

The guide provided a probability outline for when players should stand or take a hit.

Good players sometimes hit, sometimes stand, depending on the count.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Card games

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Idioms

can't stand the sight of someone/something
from where someone stands
I stand corrected
it stands to reason
know where you stand
stand (up) and be counted
stand your ground
stand someone in good stead
stand something on its head
stand and deliver!

More idioms

stand bail
stand fast/firm
stand in the way of something/someone
stand on your dignity
stand on your hands/head
stand on your head
stand on your own (two) feet
stand on ceremony
stand or fall by something
stand the test of time
standing on your head

Phrasal verbs

stand around
stand aside
stand back
stand by someone
stand by
stand by something
stand clear
stand down
stand for something
stand in

More phrasal verbs

stand out
stand out against something/someone
stand over someone
stand round
stand together
stand up
stand someone up
stand up for something/someone
stand up to someone/something
stand up to something

stand

noun

/stænd/ us

/stænd/

stand noun (SPORT)

[ C ] UK

a large structure at a sports ground, usually with a sloping floor and sometimes a roof, where people either stand or sit to watch a sports event

See also

grandstand

dmitry_7/iStock/Getty Images Plus/GettyImages

stands [ plural ]

a stand:

Fighting broke out in the stands five minutes before the end of the match.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Sports venues

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stand noun (OPINION)

[ C ]

an opinion, especially one that is public:

stand on What's her stand on sexual equality?

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Opinions, beliefs and points of view

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stand noun (COURT)

[ C ] US

(UK witness box)

the place in which a person sits or stands in a law court when they are being asked questions:

take the stand The witness took the stand (= went to the place in a court where you stand and answer questions).

dcdebs/E+/GettyImages

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Law courts

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stand noun (SHOP)

C1 [ C ]

a small shop or stall or an area where products can be shown, usually outside or in a large public building, at which people can buy things or get information:

a hotdog stand

Over three thousand companies will have stands at this year's microelectronics exhibition.

See also

newsstand

/GettyImages

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Shops & auctions

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stand noun (FRAME)

C2 [ C ]

a frame or piece of furniture for supporting or putting things on:

a music stand

a hatstand

fStop Images/GettyImages

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Frames & structures

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Furniture for storage

stand noun (OPPOSITION)

C2 [ C usually singular ]

an act of opposition, especially in order to defend someone or something:

make a stand against Environmental groups are making a stand against the new road through the valley.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Opposing & against

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stand noun (PERFORMANCES)

[ C usually singular ] US

a particular number or period of performances:

The Orioles will be in town for a three-game stand.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Spectacles & performances

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stand noun (GROUP OF TREES)

a group of trees, especially ones of a similar size, age, or type:

A pelican drifts toward a stand of trees.

If a beetle infestation hits your forest stand and all the trees are killed, all of the carbon gets re-emitted.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Groups and collections of things

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(Definition of stand from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

stand | American Dictionary

stand

verb

/stænd/

past tense and past participle stood us/stʊd/

stand verb (BE VERTICAL)

Add to word list Add to word list

[ I/T ]

to be on your feet or get into a vertical position, or to put someone or something into a vertical position:

[ I ] I stood motionless as the snake slithered by.

[ I ] Please stand back so the paramedics can get through.

[ T always + adv/prep ] I stood the ironing board against the wall.

stand on your hands (also head)

If you stand on your hands or head, you hold yourself with your head near or on the ground and your feet in the air.

stand verb (BE IN SITUATION)

to be or get into a particular state or situation:

[ I ] As things stand right now, there’s no telling who will win.

[ I ] Let the mixture stand for fifteen minutes.

[ L ] Some of these older houses have stood empty for years.

[ L ] He stands accused of tax evasion.

[ L ] Even without her shoes, she stands over six feet tall.

stands trial

If someone stands trial, accusations against that person are examined in a court of law:

Berenson will stand trial next month in the county court.

stand verb (BE IN PLACE)

[ I ]

to be in a particular place:

A desk stood in the middle of the room.

A taxi stood at the curb, waiting for a fare.

fig. If you want to apply for promotion, I won’t stand in your way.

stand verb (ACCEPT)

[ T ]

to be able to accept or bear something unpleasant or difficult:

Our tent won’t stand another storm like the last one.

How can you stand all that pressure at work?

stand verb (HAVE OPINION)

[ I always + adv/prep ]

to have a particular opinion about something:

On foreign policy, the president seems to stand to the left of his party.

Idioms

I stand corrected
it stands to reason (that)
on standby
stand a chance
stand your ground
stand guard
stand on your own (two) feet

Phrasal verbs

stand around
stand by
stand by
stand by someone/something
stand for something
stand for something
stand out
stand over
stand up
stand up someone

More phrasal verbs

stand up for someone/something

stand up to someone/something

stand

noun [ C ]

/stænd/

stand noun [C] (OPINION)

an opinion, esp. one publicly expressed:

What’s his stand on health care reform?

She’ll no doubt take a strong stand against raising taxes.

stand noun [C] (COURT)

short form ofwitness stand

stand noun [C] (STRUCTURE)

a small structure where food, newspapers, candy, and other small items are sold:

Hot dog stands with colorful umbrellas always attract a crowd.

stand noun [C] (GROUP)

a group of trees or tall plants:

Stands of spruce trees dotted the hills.

stand noun [C] (FRAME)

a pole or frame designed to hold something:

a coat stand

He mounts the baseballs on marble stands.

(Definition of stand from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

stand | Business English

stand

verb

/stænd/ us

stood | stood

Add to word list Add to word list

[ I ]

to be in a particular state or situation:

As things stand, the existing rules are not working in favour of competition.

Office blocks all over the city are standing empty.

They stand accused of backdating stock options to coincide with the lowest possible share price.

stand divided/united

[ I ]

to be at or reach a particular level:

stand at sth The country's national debt stands at $55 billion.

[ I ] POLITICS UK

to compete in a election for an official position:

She's decided to stand for re-election.

He was persuaded to stand against the party leader in the upcoming election.

[ I ]

to have a particular opinion on something:

stand on sth Where does the party stand on immigration?

[ I ]

if an offer, a decision, or a record still stands, it still exists and has not been changed:

They have not made a second bid for the company but their original offer still stands.

The commission declared that the election results should stand.

stand a chance (of doing sth)

to be likely to do sth:

These ambitious projects only stand a chance of happening if they get generous financial backing.

I don't think they stand a chance of winning the election.

stand bail (for sb)

LAW UK

to pay money to show that you promise that someone accused of a crime will come to a court of law to be judged:

A friend asked me to stand bail for his son.

stand or fall by/on sth

to depend completely on something to be able to succeed:

Governments stand or fall by their economic performance.

stand pat (on sth)

to refuse to change a decision or the way you do something:

The party is standing pat on the issue of immigration reform.

stand the test of time

to be popular or successful for a long time:

We only invest in companies with established brands that have stood the test of time.

stand to do sth

to be in a situation in which it is possible or likely that something will happen to you:

stand to gain/lose/win Our firm stands to lose a lot of money if the deal doesn't go through.

stand trial

LAW

to be judged in a court of law after being accused of illegal behaviour:

Roberts will stand trial next week for insider trading.

Phrasal verbs

stand by 
stand down
stand for sth
stand in

stand

noun

/stænd/ us

[ C ] COMMERCE, MARKETING

a table or structure where someone can sell or advertise their products or services:

There were street vendors selling ice cream and hot dogs from their stands.

Over 100 charities will have stands at this year's exhibition.

[ C, usually singular ]

someone's opinion, especially when they make it public:

sb's stand on sth What's their stand on environmental issues?

a stand against/for sth Mr Williams said his organization's stand against the new development would not change.

his outspoken stand for human rights

take/make a stand We decided to take a stand against the proposed changes to the law.

[ S ] LAW

→ witness stand :

Both the chairman and chief executive are expected to take the stand in this high-profile fraud case.

Examples of stand

stand

The abolitionist was, constitutionally speaking, neither officer nor prisoner and as a consequence may stand for the ordinary citizen - "society," the people at large.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The latter response is reinforced in us by our obligation to stand in solidarity with victims of wrongdoing against those who have wronged them.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Thus, the passive walker reported here can stand still.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

This former self, we learn, stood before two paths, one leading to a hill, the other to a meadow.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

In the end, we have only neutered rhetorical forms to stand as theories, and random design novelties to stand as practice.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Flies were considered recovered when able to stand up.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The timber was necessarily burned where it stood or fell, since this then provided ash for fertilizing the subsequent crop.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

But for both groups, might not these specific symptoms also be standing for something deeper?

From the Cambridge English Corpus

These figures may stand out in a regional context, but have not been achieved through structural change.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Large-sized pioneer species dominating early successional stands suffered greater damage and mortality, but these same species were observed as seedlings in newly formed canopy gaps.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Each year the real number of trees per plot (stand) was recorded.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Most of these logic trees can be used as stand-alone tools, depending upon the nature of the questions under consideration.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Walls stand to 700 mm, varying degrees of intactness.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Effects of climate and stand age on annual tree dynamics in tropical second-growth rain forests.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Second, the present analysis as it stands cannot predict another possible reading of (27).

From the Cambridge English Corpus

See all examples of stand

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

What is the pronunciation of stand?

Translations of stand

in Chinese (Traditional)

直立的, （使）直立, （使）站立…

in Chinese (Simplified)

直立的, （使）直立, （使）站立…

in Spanish

estar de pie, estar situado, colocar…

in Portuguese

estar de pé, ficar, encontrar-se…

in more languages

in Marathi

in Japanese

in Turkish

in French

in Catalan

in Dutch

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in Gujarati

in Danish

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in German

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in Italian

उभं राहणे, उभे असणे, स्थिर ठेवणे…

立つ, 立ち上がる, （ある場所に）ある…

ayakta durmak, dikilmek, ayağa kalkmak…

se tenir debout, se mettre, se lever…

estar dret, aixecar-se, estar situat…

staan, opstaan, gelden…

ஒரு செங்குத்தான நிலையில் இருக்க வேண்டும் அல்லது செங்குத்தான நிலைக்கு வைக்க வேண்டும், குறிப்பாக (ஒரு நபர் அல்லது விலங்கின்) கால்களை நேராக வைப்பதன் மூலம், ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட நிலை அல்லது சூழ்நிலைக்குள் இருக்க வேண்டும்…

खड़े रहना, (किसी अवस्था में या स्तर पर) स्थित होना, (किसी विशेष स्थान पर) खड़ा होना या करना…

ઊભા રહેવું, કોઈ ચોક્કસ પરિસ્થિતિમાં હોવું, આવવું…

stå, stå op, rejse sig (op)…

stå, stå (ställa sig) upp, stå stilla…

tegak, berdiri, tidak bergerak…

stehen, (auf)stehen, gelten…