1
a
: not yet cut or harvested
standing timber
standing grain
b
: upright on the feet or base : erect
the standing audience
2
: not flowing : stagnant
standing water
3
a
: remaining at the same level, degree, or amount for an indeterminate period
a standing offer
b
: continuing in existence or use indefinitely
a standing joke
4
: established by law or custom
5
: not movable
6
: done from a standing position
a standing jump
a standing ovation
1
2
a
: length of service or experience especially as determining rank, pay, or privilege
b
: position or condition in society or in a profession
especially
: good reputation
a member in good standing
3
: maintenance of position or condition : duration
a custom of long standing
Synonyms
Examples of standing in a Sentence
Adjective
Start the exercise in a standing position.
The standing offer for the computer system is $1,499.
Noun
a lawyer of high standing
They've won five games in a row and are starting to move up in the standings.
They're in first place in the current standings.
a marriage of many years' standing
Recent Examples on the Web
Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Mar. 2024
Raye got a standing ovation from Dua Lipa, shout-outs from PinkPantheress and Kylie, and the Album of the Year trophy handed to her by the Brit School’s headmaster.
—Amel Mukhtar, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2024
Capacity ranges from 83 seated to 308 for a standing reception.
—Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 16 Dec. 2023
The biggest standing ovation of the night came at the show’s end as Tennant announced that Michael J. Fox would present the award for best film — much to the surprise of the audience.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2024
There was a standing ovation Friday night at the Signia by Hilton hotel for Matthew Van, who was named the Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley’s Youth of the Year at a festive gala attended by nearly 400 guests.
—Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2024
While the performance got a standing ovation in the room, praise online was similarly enthusiastic, especially for Chapman.
—Moises Mendez Ii, TIME, 5 Feb. 2024
Seth Meyers has revealed the only episode of Saturday Night Live that got a standing ovation in his 13 years on the show.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 22 Nov. 2023
Most critically, these should include a standing dialogue forum for the entire region.
—Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 1 Feb. 2024
Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
That leaves Mercedes fourth in the constructor standings behind McLaren, Ferrari, and back-to-back champion Red Bull.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024
Cancer Career and public standing are in focus for Cancer.
—Glamour, 8 Apr. 2024
This way of standing was seen as an embodiment of high-class decadence.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Cats now trail Bruins by five points at top of NHL East standings.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
With the victory, the Sharks remained seven points back of the Blackhawks for 31st place in the NHL’s overall standings.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024
The world premiere was met with a rapturous standing ovation.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The film also earned Peele his first career standing ovation.
—Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Michele received seven standing ovations during her final performance.
—Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Mar. 2024
Raye got a standing ovation from Dua Lipa, shout-outs from PinkPantheress and Kylie, and the Album of the Year trophy handed to her by the Brit School’s headmaster.
—Amel Mukhtar, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2024
Capacity ranges from 83 seated to 308 for a standing reception.
—Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 16 Dec. 2023
The biggest standing ovation of the night came at the show’s end as Tennant announced that Michael J. Fox would present the award for best film — much to the surprise of the audience.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2024
There was a standing ovation Friday night at the Signia by Hilton hotel for Matthew Van, who was named the Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley’s Youth of the Year at a festive gala attended by nearly 400 guests.
—Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2024
While the performance got a standing ovation in the room, praise online was similarly enthusiastic, especially for Chapman.
—Moises Mendez Ii, TIME, 5 Feb. 2024
Seth Meyers has revealed the only episode of Saturday Night Live that got a standing ovation in his 13 years on the show.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 22 Nov. 2023
Most critically, these should include a standing dialogue forum for the entire region.
—Dalia Dassa Kaye, Foreign Affairs, 1 Feb. 2024
Noun
On Sunday, the Lakers, playing for every precious inch of space in the Western Conference standings, didn’t have James.
—Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
That leaves Mercedes fourth in the constructor standings behind McLaren, Ferrari, and back-to-back champion Red Bull.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024
Cancer Career and public standing are in focus for Cancer.
—Glamour, 8 Apr. 2024
This way of standing was seen as an embodiment of high-class decadence.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Cats now trail Bruins by five points at top of NHL East standings.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
With the victory, the Sharks remained seven points back of the Blackhawks for 31st place in the NHL’s overall standings.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024
The world premiere was met with a rapturous standing ovation.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
The film also earned Peele his first career standing ovation.
—Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'standing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near standing
Cite this Entry
“Standing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standing. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
standing
2 of 2 noun1
: the action or position of one that stands
2
: length of existence or service : duration
a quarrel of long standing
3
a
: position or rank as compared with others
had the highest standing in the class
b
: good reputation
people of standing in the community
Legal Definition
standing
1 of 2 adjective
stand·ing
: continuing in existence, use, or effect indefinitely
a standing order
standing
2 of 2 noun1
: the status of being qualified to assert or enforce legal rights or duties in a judicial forum because one has a sufficient and protectable interest in the outcome of a justiciable controversy and usually has suffered or is threatened with actual injury
only one who already has standing can argue the public interest in support of his claim—Hawaii's Thousand Friends v. Anderson, 768 P.2d 1293 (1989)
Hawaii's Thousand Friends v. Anderson, 768 P.2d 1293 (1989)2
: a principle requiring that a party have standing in order to justify the exercise of the court's remedial powers
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