English Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verbs with 'STAND' with their meaning

stand around/about
- Spend time waiting or doing nothing or very little.
  “People were standing around waiting for the shops to open."
stand aside
- Step sideways to free a passage or let someone or something through.
  "Please stand aside to let the doctor examine the injured man."
stand back
- Keep a distance away from something.
  "Guests were asked to stand back from the bonfire."
stand by
- Be ready and waiting for something to happen.
  "A medical team is standing by waiting for the plane to land."
  
  Support someone.
  “She stood by her husband throughout the investigation."
stand down
- Leave a job or position to allow someone else to take it.
  "The chairman announced his decision to stand down."
stand for
- Tolerate or accept:
  "The court will not stand for any more interruptions!"
  "He said he would never stand for inequality in the workplace."
  
  Represent:
  “VAT stands for ‘value added tax’".
  "NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization'
stand in for
- Replace someone temporarily.
  Sophie had to stand in for her boss whose plane was delayed."
stand off
- Reduce in number or size.
  "The doctor told Jack to cut down on cigarettes."
stand off
- Stay at a distance from others (hence the adjective “standoffish”).
  "Stella stood off from the others at the reception."
  
  Repel someone or something.
  The company hired a security guard to stand off any intruders."
stand out
- Be different from others, easily noticeable or more visible.
  “With her qualifications, she stood out from the other candidates.”
  "Jack is so tall he always stands out in a crowd.”
stand over
- Remain close in order to supervise someone or something.
  "He stood over the barbecue to make sure the steaks didn’t burn."
stand up
- Rise from a sitting position.
  "Be sure to stand up when the headmaster arrives."
stand up for
- Support or defend a person, cause, belief or principle.
  "Alex is the sort of guy who will always stand up for his friends."
  "The girl stood up for her beliefs in the face of opposition."
stand up to
- Resist damage or remain in good condition despite rough treatment.
  "The boat will stand up to the harshest weather conditions."
  Resist someone, refuse to accept unfair or bad treatment.
  "You must learn to say ‘no’ ! He’ll respect you more if you stand up to him. "

More Phrasal Verbs:

« A B C D E-F G H I-J-K L M-N O-P-Q R-S T U-Z »

Phrasal Verbs and Exercises Idioms Homepage