stand
gb/stˈænd/ us/stˈænd/
A1
English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A1
state
1
Be upright on feet
To be on your feet and not sitting or lying down.
Usage pattern:
to stand [somewhere]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'stand' with 'stay', but 'stand' describes a physical position, not remaining in a place generally.
Synonyms
remain upright (More formal and descriptive, emphasizes not falling or sitting.)
Antonyms
sit (Opposite in body position, with weight supported by the buttocks.)
Collocations
stand still
|stand tall
|stand in line
|stand near
|stand quietly
Themes
daily life
|body
|movement
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She stood by the window watching the rain.
- Please stand still while I take your picture.
- We stood in line for over an hour.
- He stood at the edge of the stage, waiting to speak.
- The children stood quietly during the ceremony.
Learner examples
- I stand next to my friend.
- Please stand here.
- They stand in a line.
- He stands near the door.
- We stand in the park.
Verb
B1
action
2
Tolerate or endure
To accept something you do not like.
Usage pattern:
can't stand [something/someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may incorrectly use 'stand' without 'can't' to mean tolerate; in this sense, it is mostly negative and often used with 'can't'.
Synonyms
tolerate (Neutral term for allowing or putting up with something.)
Antonyms
enjoy (Opposite in emotional reaction; to take pleasure in something.)
Collocations
can't stand noise
|can't stand waiting
|can't stand the heat
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I can't stand loud music when I'm working.
- She can't stand his bad manners.
- I can't stand being late to meetings.
- He can't stand the smell of smoke.
- They can't stand watching horror movies.
Learner examples
- I can't stand cold weather.
- She can't stand loud music.
- He can't stand spicy food.
- We can't stand waiting so long.
- I can't stand rude people.
Noun
A2
entity
3
Structure for display or support
A thing that holds or shows something.
Synonyms
stall (Often used for a small shop or selling place, especially outdoors.)
Antonyms
pile (An untidy heap rather than a structured holder.)
Collocations
book stand
|market stand
|display stand
Themes
objects
|shopping
|daily_life
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The vendor sold fruit from a small stand.
- Put the flowers on the plant stand by the window.
- We stopped at a lemonade stand run by kids.
- The brochures are on the display stand near the door.
- She bought jewelry from a craft stand at the fair.
Learner examples
- The books are on the stand.
- We saw a fruit stand.
- He made a wood stand for his TV.
- There is a plant stand in the room.
- They sell drinks at a small stand.
Verb
A2
state
4
Be located upright somewhere
To be in one place in an upright way.
Usage pattern:
[something] stands [somewhere]
Synonyms
be situated (More formal and general for location, not necessarily upright.)
Antonyms
lie (Refers to being positioned flat rather than upright.)
Collocations
statue stands
|building stands on hill
Themes
places
|objects
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The old church stands at the center of town.
- A statue stands in the park as a memorial.
- The tower stands over 300 meters tall.
- That house still stands after 200 years.
- The tree stands near the river bank.
Learner examples
- The school stands near my home.
- A big tree stands in the garden.
- The shop stands on Main Street.
- The statue stands in front of the museum.
- The hotel stands beside the lake.
Noun
B2
entity
5
Position on an issue
What someone believes about something important.
Synonyms
stance (Very close meaning; often used interchangeably in formal contexts.)
Antonyms
indifference (Lack of opinion or position on an issue.)
Collocations
take a stand
|firm stand
Themes
politics
|opinions
|communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She took a strong stand against corruption.
- The company has taken a clear stand on environmental issues.
- His stand on education reform is well known.
- Many people respect her for her moral stand.
- They refused to change their stand despite criticism.
Learner examples
- He took a stand against bad rules.
- They have a strong stand on safety.
- Her stand is clear on this problem.
- We respect his moral stand.
- The group made a firm stand for peace.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stand
IPA
GB/stˈænd/
US/stˈænd/
Syllables & stress
stand (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (stand)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: stand
- Plural: stands
Verb
- Base: stand
- 3rd Person Singular: stands
- Present Participle: standing
- Past: stood
- Past Participle: stood
Word family
Forms
stands
noun
standing
verb
stood
verb
Core family
Related words
outstanding
adjective B1
standpoint
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
misunderstand
verb B1
misunderstanding
noun
Advanced or less common
withstand
verb B2
standstill
noun B2
Highlights
- Irregular past: stood Verb
- Irregular past participle: stood Verb
Expressions
make a stand
1/mˈeɪk ə stˈænd/
idiom
Defend position strongly
To speak or act strongly to defend what you believe is right.
Examples
- They made a stand against unfair laws.
- He decided to make a stand for freedom.
stand in line
1/stˈænd ˈɪn lˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
Wait in a queue upright
To wait with other people in a line until it's your turn.
Examples
- We had to stand in line for tickets.
- People stood in line outside the store.
stand out
1/stˈænd ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Be noticeable or distinctive
To be easy to see or notice because you are different or better than others.
Examples
- Her bright dress made her stand out in the crowd.
- His work really stands out from the rest.
stand up for
1/stˈænd ˈʌp fɚ/
phrasal verb
Defend or support belief/person
To speak or act to protect someone or something you think is right.
Examples
- You must learn to stand up for yourself.
- They stood up for their rights.
stand by
1/stˈænd bˈaɪ/
phrasal verb
Support during difficulty
To stay loyal to someone and help them when they have problems.
Examples
- She stood by her friend during the trial.
- Please stand by for further instructions.
- We will stand by our decision no matter what.
- Rescue teams are standing by in case of emergency.