Language Research

stand · verb

/stænd/Full view

Word family

Nouns: stand, standing

Adjectives: standing, outstanding

Verbs: stand

Adverbs: outstandingly

stand (VERTICAL)

A2 I to be in a vertical position on your feet

Dictionary examples:

He's standing over there, next to Karen.

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

Stand still and be quiet!

Learner example:

I will stand at the front of my house. (Key English Test; A2; Thai)

stand (RISE)

A2 I to rise to a vertical position on your feet from sitting or lying down

Dictionary examples:

I get dizzy if I stand up too quickly.

Please stand when the bride arrives.

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

Learner example:

All [the] class stood up and sang "Imagine". (Preliminary English Test; B1; Italian)

can't stand sb/sth

B1 to hate someone or something

Dictionary examples:

I can't stand him.

She can't stand doing housework.

Learner example:

I can't stand crowded shops. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Czech)

stand (sth) in/against/by, etc. sth

B2 to be in or to put something in a particular place or position

Dictionary examples:

His walking stick stood by the door.

You'll have to stand the sofa on its end to get it through the door.

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

Learner example:

As he stepped forward I knelt down and pulled his leg, so that he fell over and hit a small table standing beside the sofa. (First Certificate in English; B2; German)

it stands to reason

C2 If it stands to reason that something happens or is true, it is what you would expect.

Dictionary example:

It stands to reason that a child who is constantly criticized will have little self-confidence.

Learner example:

So it stands to reason that there is no place for Piggy in Jack's world. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; German)

stand (STATE)

C2 I to be in a particular state or situation

Dictionary examples:

The house stood empty for years.

The player is currently standing second in the world rankings.

Learner example:

The cottage next to ours stood empty. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Dutch)

stand (NOT BE DESTROYED)

C1 I if a building stands, it has not been destroyed.

Dictionary example:

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

Learner example:

The city was filled of magnificent monuments, some of them still standing today. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Spanish)

stand trial

C2 If someone stands trial, they appear in a law court where people decide if they are guilty of a crime.

Dictionary example:

to stand trial for murder

Learner example:

He was going there in order to arrest Christians and bring them to Jerusalem to stand trial for their treason. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

stand at sth

C1 to be at a particular level, amount, height, etc.

Dictionary example:

Inflation currently stands at 3 per cent.

Learner example:

It was overtaken by furniture and equipment, which stood at 23 per cent in 2001, but only at 15% in 1981. (International English Language Testing System; C1; German)

stand to gain/lose sth

C2 to be in a situation where you can get/lose money or an advantage

Dictionary example:

He stands to gain a fortune if the company is sold.

Learner example:

International tourism should be encouraged, rather than reduced, because countries that are still developing stand to gain a lot from visitors from other parts of the world. (International English Language Testing System; C1; Efik)

where you stand (with sb)

C2 what someone thinks about you, how they expect you to behave, and how they are likely to behave

Dictionary example:

She said she will never leave her husband, so now at least I know where I stand.

where sb stands (on sth)

C2 what your opinion is about something

Dictionary example:

We asked the head teacher where he stood on the wearing of jewellery in school.

Learner example:

From where I stand, some action must be taken urgently because the problems are constantly exacerbating. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

stand a chance

C2 to have a chance of success or of achieving something

Dictionary examples:

He stands a good chance of winning the election.

These kids don't stand a chance of getting an education.

Learner example:

If this measure were taken, the outcome would be of fundamental importance for the currently unemployed because they will stand a chance of finding a job and making a living. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

stand (ACCEPT)

C1 T to be able to accept or deal with a difficult situation

Dictionary examples:

She couldn't stand the pressures of the job.

The pain was more than he could stand.

Learner example:

Finally, last week we had a meeting and we decided to complain about that because nobody could stand the situation any more. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Catalan)

as it stands

C2 as something is now, without changes in it

Dictionary example:

The law as it stands is very unclear.

Learner example:

In my opinion, this debate is rooted in a deeper questioning of society's foundations: some people see society as it stands today as inherently flawed, an amorphous group of people who follow and worship anyone that gives them pleasure. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

stand (ELECTION)

C2 I to compete in an election for an official position

Dictionary example:

to stand for office/parliament

Learner example:

As a member of a party called Democratic Union she stood for election in Poland and is now in parliament. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Polish)

stand your ground

C2 to refuse to change your opinion or move your position despite attempts to make you

Dictionary example:

They tried to make me accept a lower wage, but I stood my ground.

Learner example:

She said she would stand her ground. In fact, she hoped that after the first flush of infatuation was over, Francis would come [to] long for his former love. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

stand back

B2 to move a short distance away from something or someone

Dictionary example:

Please stand back - then all of you will be able to see what I'm doing.

stand by sb

B2 to continue to support or help someone who is in a difficult situation

Dictionary example:

She has vowed to stand by her husband during his trial.

Learner example:

And I promise I'll stand by you. (First Certificate in English; B2; Polish)

stand for sth (REPRESENT)

B2 to support or represent a particular idea or set of ideas

Dictionary example:

This party stands for low taxes and individual freedom.

Learner example:

The Brandenburger Tor stands for freedom and unity. (First Certificate in English; B2; German)

stand for sth (LETTERS)

B2 If one or more letters stand for a word or name, they are the first letter or letters of that word or name and they represent it

Dictionary example:

'GMT' stands for Greenwich Mean Time.

not stand for sth (ACCEPT)

C2 If you will not stand for something, you will not accept a situation or a particular type of behaviour

Dictionary example:

I wouldn't stand for that sort of behaviour from him, if I were you.

Learner example:

Much as I admire the performance of the new aircraft today, I understand your need to fly and test new technologies, but I will not stand for it any longer. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; French)

stand in

C2 to do something that someone else was going to do because they cannot be there

Dictionary example:

She stood in for me when I was sick.

Learner example:

As I will be away these two days, I have asked Mr. Ryman's secretary Sandy, to stand in for me. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

stand out (BE BETTER)

B2 to be much better than other similar things or people

Dictionary example:

One candidate stood out from the rest.

Learner example:

Those small fishing villages will always stand out in my memory. (First Certificate in English; B2; Italian)

stand out (EASY TO SEE)

B2 to be very easy to see or notice

Dictionary example:

The bright blue letters really stand out on the page.

Learner example:

Why wasn't that money spent in trying to make them more bearable to [look at], [rather] than making them stand out even more? (First Certificate in English; B2; Catalan)

stand up sb or stand sb up

B2 to fail to meet someone you have arranged a romantic meeting with

Dictionary example:

I was starting to think I'd been stood up when he arrived.

stand up for sth/sb

B2 to defend or support a particular idea or a person who is being criticized or attacked

Dictionary examples:

It's high time we all stood up for our rights around here.

Don't be bullied, learn to stand up for yourself and what you believe in.

Learner example:

He decides to stand up for black rights and becomes an important leader. (First Certificate in English; B2; French)

stand up to sb/sth

C1 to defend yourself against a powerful person or organization when they treat you unfairly

Dictionary example:

He wasn't afraid to stand up to bullies.

Learner example:

They say that the best things in life are for free, courage, hope, love for freedom and the power to stand up to others, defending one's own rights. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Greek)

stand · noun

/stænd/

Word family

Nouns: stand, standing

Adjectives: standing, outstanding

Verbs: stand

Adverbs: outstandingly

stand (FOR SELLING/SHOWING)

C1 C a table or small structure from which goods are sold or shown

Dictionary examples:

a hot dog stand

Visit our stand at the trade fair.

Learner example:

It would be extremely beneficial to our company to have a stand there next year. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Dutch)

make/take a stand

C2 to publicly defend something or stop something from happening

Dictionary examples:

It's about time someone made a stand.

He refuses to take a stand on this issue.

Learner example:

We cannot simply stand by while our greenery is being [destroy]ed, so I am making a stand. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

stand (FURNITURE)

C2 C a piece of furniture for holding things

Dictionary example:

a music/hat stand

Learner example:

We go backstage, the audience is still clapping and the people in the orchestra are beating with their bow on the music stand. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Chinese)