Meaning of stand In English

• 0 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.

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

  • Stand still and be quiet!

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

  • Stand the bottles on the table over there.

• 1 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?

  • The national debt stands at 55 billion dollars.

  • 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.

  • 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).

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

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

• 2 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.

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

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

• 3 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.

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

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

• 5 to have a chance of success:

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

• 6 to be a stated height:

  • Even without his shoes he stood over two metres tall.

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

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

• 8 to have as an opinion:

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

• 9 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

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

• 10 an opinion, especially one that is public:

  • What's her stand on sexual equality?

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

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

• 12 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.

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

  • a music stand

  • a hatstand

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

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

• 15 a particular number or period of performances:

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

• 16 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.

• 17 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.

• 18 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.

  • Berenson will stand trial next month in the county court.

• 19 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.

• 20 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?

• 21 to have a particular opinion about something:

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

• 22 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.

• 23 short form ofwitness stand

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

  • Hot dog stands with colorful umbrellas always attract a crowd.

• 25 a group of trees or tall plants:

  • Stands of spruce trees dotted the hills.

• 26 a pole or frame designed to hold something:

  • a coat stand

  • He mounts the baseballs on marble stands.

• 27 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

• 28 to be at or reach a particular level:

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

• 29 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.

• 30 to have a particular opinion on something:

  • stand on sth Where does the party stand on immigration?

• 31 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.

• 32 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.

• 33 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.

• 34 to depend completely on something to be able to succeed:

  • Governments stand or fall by their economic performance.

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

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

• 36 to be popular or successful for a long time:

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

• 37 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.

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

  • Roberts will stand trial next week for insider trading.

• 39 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.

• 40 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.

• 41 →  witness stand :

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