stand

  • verb (past and past part. stood) 1 be in or rise to an upright position, supported by one’s feet. 2 place or be situated in a particular position. 3 move in a standing position to a specified place: stand aside. 4 remain stationary or without disturbance. 5 be in a specified state or condition. 6 remain valid or unaltered. 7 adopt a particular attitude towards an issue. 8 be likely to do something: investors stood to lose heavily. 9 act in a specified capacity. tolerate, withstand, or like: I can’t stand it. Brit. be a candidate in an election. provide (food or drink) for (someone) at one’s expense. (of a ship) remain on a specified course.

  • noun 1 an attitude towards a particular issue. 2 a determined effort to hold one’s ground or resist something. 3 a stopping of motion or progress. 4 a large raised tiered structure for spectators. 5 a raised platform for a band, orchestra, or speaker. 6 a rack, base, or item of furniture for holding or displaying something. 7 a small temporary stall or booth from which promotional goods are sold or displayed. 8 (the stand) a witness box. 9 a place where vehicles wait for passengers. a group of trees or other plants. Cricket a partnership.

  — PHRASES stand alone be unequalled. stand and deliver! a highwayman’s order to hand over money and valuables. stand by 1 look on without intervening. 2 support, remain loyal to, or abide by. 3 be ready to take action if required. stand down 1 (also stand aside) resign from or leave a position or office. 2 relax after a state of readiness. stand for 1 be an abbreviation of or symbol for. 2 endure or tolerate. stand in deputize. stand off move or keep away. stand on be scrupulous in the observance of. stand on one’s own (two) feet be or become self-reliant or independent. stand out 1 project or be easily noticeable. 2 be clearly better. stand to Military stand ready for an attack. stand trial be tried in a court of law. stand up informal fail to keep a date with (someone). stand up and be counted state publicly one’s support for someone or something. stand up for speak or act in support of. stand up to 1 make a spirited defence against. 2 be resistant to the harmful effects of.

  — USAGE it is not good English to use the past participle stood with the verb ‘to be’, as in we were stood in a line for hours; the correct form is we were standing in a line for hours.

  — ORIGIN Old English, related to STEAD.