stand
stand
Pronunciation
stand: /stænd/
Syllable 1: /stænd/
/s/ - unvoiced alveolar fricative
/t/ - unvoiced alveolar stop
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/n/ - voiced alveolar nasal
/d/ - voiced alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: stand
Plural Noun: stands
Verb (base form): stand
Verb (third-person singular present): stands
Verb (present participle): standing
Verb (past tense): stood
Verb (past participle): stood
Adjective: standing (e.g., a standing ovation)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To support oneself upright on one's feet; to be in an upright position.
Synonyms: remain upright, be erect, be on one's feet
Antonyms: sit, lie, fall, collapse
Definition 2: To be located or situated in a particular place.
Synonyms: be situated, be located, be positioned, exist
Antonyms: move, depart, leave
Definition 3: To tolerate or endure something, often something unpleasant.
Synonyms: tolerate, endure, bear, put up with, abide
Antonyms: reject, oppose, resist, succumb
Definition 4: To hold a particular opinion or position on an issue.
Synonyms: advocate, maintain, assert, believe, contend
Antonyms: concede, waver, yield, give in
Definition 5: (Of a rule or agreement) To remain valid or in force.
Synonyms: remain in effect, hold, apply, be valid
Antonyms: expire, lapse, be revoked, be invalid
Noun
Definition 1: A position where one is upright on one's feet.
Synonyms: posture, stance, upright position
Antonyms: sit, recline, lie
Definition 2: A structure or framework on which something is placed or supported.
Synonyms: base, holder, support, rack, platform
Antonyms: (Context-dependent, e.g., nothing, floor if it's meant to hold something off the floor)
Definition 3: A small, often temporary, structure or booth used for selling goods or providing information.
Synonyms: stall, booth, kiosk, market stall
Antonyms: store, shop (implies permanence and larger scale)
Definition 4: A determined effort to resist or defend something.
Synonyms: resistance, defense, opposition, stance
Antonyms: surrender, capitulation, retreat, submission
Definition 5: A group of trees or plants growing together in a particular area.
Synonyms: grove, clump, thicket, copse
Antonyms: clearing, open field, barren land
Examples of Use
Books:
"He resolved to stand firm against the tide of public opinion, believing in the righteousness of his cause." (From To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee)
"The old house continued to stand on the hill, a silent sentinel watching over the town." (From The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson)
Newspapers:
"Local residents stand united against the proposed development, citing environmental concerns." (The Daily Nation)
"The new policy will stand as a testament to the government's commitment to economic growth." (The Standard)
Online Publications:
"Experts stand divided on the future of artificial intelligence, with some predicting rapid advancements and others cautioning against potential risks." (Reuters)
"You must stand your ground when negotiating your salary; know your worth and be prepared to articulate it." (Forbes.com)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In The Lion King, Mufasa tells Simba, "Everything the light touches is our kingdom. But a king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, Simba, the sun will set on my time here, and will rise with you as the new king." Simba then asks, "And what about that shadowy place?" to which Mufasa replies, "That's beyond our borders. You must never go there, Simba." (This example implies Mufasa's expectation for Simba to stand by his words and avoid the shadowy place.)
Music: "I won't stand for it, I won't back down, I'll fight until the end." (Lyrics from a protest song by an unnamed artist)
Television: "The prosecutor called the witness to the stand to give testimony in the high-profile case." (From a legal drama series, e.g., Suits, any season)
Video Games: "Your character must stand firm against the incoming horde of enemies if you wish to protect the castle." (In-game instruction from a strategy video game, e.g., Age of Empires series)
General Public Discourse:
"I can't stand the heat in this city during the summer." (Common complaint)
"Let's take a stand for what we believe in." (Call to action)
"Could you please stand up so everyone can see you?" (Instruction)
"There's a hot dog stand around the corner if you're hungry." (Informal direction)
10 Quotes Using Stand
"A man who won't stand for something will fall for anything." (Malcolm X)
"United we stand, divided we fall." (Aesop, Aesop's Fables)
"I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way." (John Keating, Dead Poets Society)
"They also serve who only stand and wait." (John Milton, On His Blindness)
"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." (Peter Marshall)
"Truth does not mind being questioned; a lie does not like being challenged and does not want to stand alone." (Unknown)
"You never stand so tall as when you stoop to help a child." (Abraham Lincoln - Attribution debated)
"I shall not stand for it." (Common idiomatic expression)
"We stand on the shoulders of giants." (Bernard of Chartres, popularized by Isaac Newton)
"Let us stand for the right, though the heavens fall." (Immanuel Kant)
Etymology
The word "stand" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back thousands of years!
Imagine our very distant ancestors, observing people and things remaining upright. That basic idea of being in an upright position or staying in one place is where "stand" began.
The earliest known form of the word in English is from Old English (before 1150 AD), where it appeared as "standan." This "standan" already carried several meanings similar to what we use today, like:
To occupy a place: This is the core idea of being somewhere.
To stand firm: This hints at stability and resistance.
To be on one's feet: The most literal sense of being upright.
To remain or continue: Showing that something stays in a certain state or position.
To be valid: Meaning something holds true or is in effect.
If we go even further back in time, "standan" came from a much older language called Proto-Germanic (standaną), which then traces back to Proto-Indo-European (steh₂-). This ancient Proto-Indo-European root is super interesting because it's the ancestor of many words across different languages that have to do with being stationary, standing, or placing something. For example, it's related to the Latin word stare (to stand) and even some Greek words!
So, the word "stand" has always been about the fundamental concept of being upright, staying in place, or holding a position, whether physically or figuratively. Over centuries, it just kept adding more shades of meaning while holding onto that original core idea.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Stand
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "stand":
Stand tall: To be confident and proud.
Stand by: To support someone or something; to be ready for action.
Stand for: To represent something; to tolerate something.
Stand out: To be easily noticeable or distinctive.
Stand up for (oneself/something): To defend oneself or a principle.
Stand a chance: To have a possibility of success.
Stand down: To resign from a position; to take a less aggressive stance.
Stand firm: To remain resolute and unyielding.
Stand corrected: To admit one was wrong.
Stand on ceremony: To insist on formal behavior.
To stand one's ground: To maintain one's position or opinion despite opposition.
To make a stand: To take a firm position in opposition to something.
The hair on the back of my neck stood up: A phrase indicating fear or a strange feeling.
To stand to reason: To be logical or evident.
Can't stand (someone/something): To strongly dislike or detest.
To stand trial: To be tried in a court of law.
To stand pat: To stick with a decision or situation without changing.
To stand in good stead: To be very useful or helpful in the future.
A one-night stand: A single sexual encounter with no expectation of further contact.
To stand guard: To protect or watch over something.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of stand from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
