stand

I UK [stænd] / US verb
Word forms "stand":
present tense I/you/we/they stand he/she/it stands present participle standing past tense stood UK [stʊd] / US past participle stood
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1)

a) [intransitive] to have your body in an upright position supported by your feet

The train was full and we had to stand all the way to Edinburgh.

stand by/at/on/behind etc:

Mrs Carter was standing by the open window.

The man standing behind him spoke.

stand with your back to someone/something:

He was standing with his back to her.

stand doing something:

He stood looking at them in silence.

stand and do something:

The children stood and watched.

stand still (= not move):

They all stood still and listened to the sound coming from outside.

Stand still and let me brush your hair.

b) to stand and be unable to move because you are reacting in a particular way to something

stand motionless/transfixed/open-mouthed etc:

She stood transfixed as the man lurched unsteadily across the busy road.

2) stand or stand up

[intransitive] to move from sitting or bending down into an upright position

The whole courtroom stood as the judge entered.

3) [intransitive] to put your foot on or in something by accident

stand on/in:

He apologized for standing on my foot.

I just stood in something disgusting.

4) [intransitive] if an object or building stands somewhere, it is in a particular position

His statue stands in the city square.

Their house stood at the top of a hill.

a) [transitive] to put an object or a person somewhere in an upright position

Stand the bookcase against the far wall.

b) [intransitive] if something such as a building is standing, it has not been destroyed

still standing:

The ancient family home is still standing.

left standing:

Only a few homes were left standing after the earthquake.

c) [intransitive] used for talking about the state or condition of a building or object

The house stood neglected for nearly 100 years.

stand empty/idle:

The old factory now stood empty.

Several ships are standing idle in the port as the dock strike continues.

5) [intransitive] if a car, train, plane etc stands somewhere, it remains there without moving, waiting to be used

Luckily, the train was still standing at the platform.

6) [intransitive] to be a particular height

Their father stands well over six feet.

The structure stands 40 metres high.

7) [intransitive] to be in a particular situation or state

as it stands/as things stand:

As it stands, the law doesn't allow local government to take such action.

where/how something stands:

How do negotiations stand at the moment?

know where you stand (with someone) (= understand your position):

He might seem rude, but at least you know where you stand with him.

8) [intransitive] to behave in a particular way

He stood aloof from the daily operations of the office.

stand ready/prepared:

We stand ready to sign any reasonable agreement that you produce.

stand together/united:

So long as we all stand together, we'll win.

9) [intransitive] if something such as an offer, a law, or a record stands, it remains in existence or use

Her world record has stood for nearly 20 years.

still stands:

Tell him my offer still stands.

10) [transitive, usually in negatives or questions] to be willing to accept something that someone does

I can't stand his lies any more.

I won't stand any more arguing from you.

How can you stand all that noise?

stand someone doing something:

I won't stand them interrupting me all the time.

11) [intransitive] to have a particular attitude or view about a person or subject

where someone stands on something:

Where does the Prime Minister stand on this issue?

12) [transitive] to be good or strong enough not to be badly affected or damaged by something

These are plants that do not stand the cold well.

stand the strain:

I didn't think these boots would stand the strain of such a long walk.

13) [intransitive] British to take part in an election as a candidate (= someone who people vote for). The American word is run

She's not intending to stand at the next election.

stand as:

He'll be standing as the candidate for Falkirk West.

14) [intransitive] if a liquid stands, it is still and does not flow

soil where water stands in the winter

15) [intransitive] if a food, drink, or mixture stands, nothing is done to it so that its flavours can develop and become stronger

leave/allow something to stand for something:

Leave the mixture to stand for 20 minutes.

16) [transitive] to perform a particular job or service

stand guard (over someone/something):

Two men were left standing guard over the prisoners.

stand bail/surety (for someone) (= accept a legal or financial responsibility for someone):

No one would stand bail for him.

He could not leave the country unless the Embassy stood surety for him.

17) [transitive] informal old-fashioned to buy something for someone, especially food or drink

stand someone something:

I'll stand you a cup of coffee if you've no money.

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someone can't stand someone/something — used for saying that a person dislikes someone or something very much

I can't stand milk.

James just can't stand his mother-in-law.

can't stand doing something:

I can't stand waiting for buses.

can't stand someone doing something:

He couldn't stand anyone feeling sorry for him.

can't stand the sight of someone/something:

Sylvia couldn't stand the sight of blood.

it stands to reason (that) — used for saying that something is obvious because it is what most sensible people would expect

If they don't like you, it stands to reason they won't give you the job.

stand a chance/hope (of doing something) — to be likely to achieve something

Do they stand any chance of winning against France?

stand in someone's way/path — to try to stop someone from doing something

If you want to marry him, we won't stand in your way.

stand on your head/hands — to hold your body in an upside down position supported only by your head/hands

stand on your own (two) feet — to behave in an independent way, especially by not asking for financial help from anyone

He's old enough to stand on his own two feet.

stand or fall by/on something — to succeed or fail because of a particular thing

The hotel industry stands or falls on the standard of its service.

stand trial (for something) — legal to be judged for a crime in a court of law

The two men were due to stand trial for murder.

- someone can't stand to do something

- someone could stand something

- do something standing on your head

- from where someone stands

- I stand corrected

- not stand on ceremony

- stand accused of something

- stand alone

- stand in line

- stand in the way of something

- stand there

- stand to attention

- stand to do something

Phrasal verbs:

- stand about

- stand against

- stand around

- stand aside

- stand at

- stand back

- stand between

- stand by

- stand down

- stand for

- stand in

- stand out

- stand out against

- stand out for

- stand over

- stand up

- stand up for

- stand up to

See:

fast II, ground I, heat I, leg I, stead, tall

II UK [stænd] / US noun
Word forms "stand":
singular stand plural stands
**

1) [countable, usually singular] an attitude or opinion about something, especially one that you state publicly

stand on:

I couldn't vote for them because of their stand on social issues.

take a stand (on something) (= state your opinion clearly):

The president has not taken a stand on this issue.

2) [countable, usually singular] a determined attempt to oppose someone or something that you consider to be wrong

stand against:

support for their stand against racism

take/make a stand (against someone/something):

The Prime Minister must take a firm stand against extremists in his party.

3)

a) [countable] a large table or temporary structure used for selling things, especially food or drink

a hot-dog stand

b) a large table at an exhibition where an organization offers information, goods, or services

the Porsche stand at the recent Paris show

4) [countable] an object or a piece of furniture used for holding, supporting, or storing something

a cake/mike stand

an umbrella stand

5) [countable, often plural] a part of a sports stadium where people sit or stand to watch a match or event

6) [singular] mainly American the part of a court of law where people stand to answer lawyers' questions. The usual British word is witness box.

7) [countable, usually singular] the period during which a particular pair of batsmen play together in a cricket match, or the total number of runs that they make together

•

- take the stand

See:

one-night stand