(stands, standing, stood)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
When you are standing, your body is upright, your legs are straight, and your weight is supported by your feet.
She was standing beside my bed staring down at me...
They told me to stand still and not to turn round...
Overcrowding is so bad that prisoners have to sleep in shifts, while others have to stand.
VERB: V prep, V adj, V
•
Stand up means the same as
stand.
We waited, standing up, for an hour.
PHRASAL VERB: V P
2.
When someone who is sitting stands, they change their position so that they are upright and on their feet.
Becker stood and shook hands with Ben.
VERB: V
•
Stand up means the same as
stand.
When I walked in, they all stood up and started clapping.
PHRASAL VERB: V P
3.
If you stand aside or stand back, you move a short distance sideways or backwards, so that you are standing in a different place.
I stood aside to let her pass me...
The policemen stood back. Could it be a bomb?
VERB: V adv/prep, V adv/prep
4.
If something such as a building or a piece of furniture stands somewhere, it is in that position, and is upright. (WRITTEN)
The house stands alone on top of a small hill...
VERB: V prep/adv
5.
You can say that a building is standing when it remains after other buildings around it have fallen down or been destroyed.
There are very few buildings left standing.
VERB: V
6.
If you stand something somewhere, you put it there in an upright position.
Stand the plant in the open in a sunny, sheltered place.
= place
VERB: V n prep/adv
7.
If you leave food or a mixture of something to stand, you leave it without disturbing it for some time.
The salad improves if made in advance and left to stand.
VERB: V
8.
If you take or make a stand, you do something or say something in order to make it clear what your attitude to a particular thing is.
He felt the need to make a stand against racism in South Africa...
They must take a stand and cast their votes...
N-COUNT: usu sing, oft N against/on n
9.
If you ask someone where or how they stand on a particular issue, you are asking them what their attitude or view is.
The amendment will force senators to show where they stand on the issue of sexual harassment...
So far, the bishop hasn't said where he stands.
VERB: where V on n, where V
10.
If you do not know where you stand with someone, you do not know exactly what their attitude to you is.
No-one knows where they stand with him; he is utterly unpredictable...
VERB: where V with n
11.
You can use stand instead of 'be' when you are describing the present state or condition of something or someone.
The alliance stands ready to do what is necessary...
The peace plan as it stands violates basic human rights.
V-LINK: V adj, V
12.
If a decision, law, or offer stands, it still exists and has not been changed or cancelled.
Although exceptions could be made, the rule still stands...
VERB: V
13.
If something that can be measured stands at a particular level, it is at that level.
The inflation rate now stands at 3.6 per cent...
VERB: V at amount
14.
You can describe how tall or high someone or something is by saying that they stand a particular height.
She stood five feet five inches tall and weighed 120 pounds...
She stood tall and aloof.
VERB: V amount adj, V adj
15.
If something can stand a situation or a test, it is good enough or strong enough to experience it without being damaged, harmed, or shown to be inadequate.
These are the first machines that can stand the wear and tear of continuously crushing glass...
VERB: V n
16.
If you cannot stand something, you cannot bear it or tolerate it.
I can't stand any more. I'm going to run away...
How does he stand the pain?
VERB: V n/-ing, V n/-ing
17.
If you cannot stand someone or something, you dislike them very strongly. (INFORMAL)
He can't stand me smoking.
= bear
VERB: V n/-ing
18.
If you stand to gain something, you are likely to gain it. If you stand to lose something, you are likely to lose it.
The management group would stand to gain millions of dollars if the company were sold...
VERB: V to-inf
19.
If you
stand in an election, you are a candidate in it. (
BRIT; in AM, use run
)
He has not yet announced whether he will stand in the election...
VERB: V in n
20.
A stand is a small shop or stall, outdoors or in a large public building.
She bought a hot dog from a stand on a street corner.
= stall
N-COUNT: oft n N
21.
A stand at a sports ground is a large structure where people sit or stand to watch what is happening. (BRIT)
N-COUNT
•
In American English, stands is used with same meaning.
The people in the stands at Candlestick Park are standing and cheering with all their might.
N-PLURAL
22.
A stand is an object or piece of furniture that is designed for supporting or holding a particular kind of thing.
The teapot came with a stand to catch the drips.
N-COUNT
23.
A stand is an area where taxis or buses can wait to pick up passengers.
Luckily there was a taxi stand nearby.
N-COUNT: usu n N
24.
In a law court, the stand is the place where a witness stands to answer questions.
When the father took the stand today, he contradicted his son's testimony...
N-SING: the N
25.
26.
If you say it stands to reason that something is true or likely to happen, you mean that it is obvious.
It stands to reason that if you are considerate and friendly to people you will get a lot more back...
PHRASE: V inflects, usu it PHR that
27.
If you stand in the way of something or stand in a person's way, you prevent that thing from happening or prevent that person from doing something.
The British government would not stand in the way of such a proposal...
PHRASE: V inflects
28.
to
stand up and be counted: see
count
to
stand on your
own two feet: see
foot
to
stand your
ground: see
ground
to
stand someone
in good stead: see
stead
to
stand trial: see
trial