(~s, ~ing, stood)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
When you are ~ing, your body is upright, your legs are straight, and your weight is supported by your feet.
She was ~ing beside my bed staring down at me...
They told me to ~ still and not to turn round...
Overcrowding is so bad that prisoners have to sleep in shifts, while others have to ~.
VERB: V prep, V adj, V
•
Stand up means the same as ~ .
We waited, ~ing up, for an hour.
PHRASAL VERB: V P
2.
When someone who is sitting ~s, they change their position so that they are upright and on their feet.
Becker stood and shook hands with Ben.
VERB: V
•
Stand up means the same as ~ .
When I walked in, they all stood up and started clapping.
PHRASAL VERB: V P
3.
If you ~ aside or ~ back, you move a short distance sideways or backwards, so that you are ~ing in a different place.
I stood aside to let her pass me...
The policemen stood back. Could it be a bomb?
VERB: V adv/prep, V adv/prep
4.
If something such as a building or a piece of furniture ~s somewhere, it is in that position, and is upright. (WRITTEN)
The house ~s alone on top of a small hill...
VERB: V prep/adv
5.
You can say that a building is ~ing when it remains after other buildings around it have fallen down or been destroyed.
There are very few buildings left ~ing.
VERB: V
6.
If you ~ something somewhere, you put it there in an upright position.
Stand the plant in the open in a sunny, sheltered place.
= place
VERB: V n prep/adv
7.
If you leave food or a mixture of something to ~, you leave it without disturbing it for some time.
The salad improves if made in advance and left to ~.
VERB: V
8.
If you take or make a ~, you do something or say something in order to make it clear what your attitude to a particular thing is.
He felt the need to make a ~ against racism in South Africa...
They must take a ~ and cast their votes...
N-COUNT: usu sing, oft N against/on n
9.
If you ask someone where or how they ~ on a particular issue, you are asking them what their attitude or view is.
The amendment will force senators to show where they ~ on the issue of sexual harassment...
So far, the bishop hasn’t said where he ~s.
VERB: where V on n, where V
10.
If you do not know where you ~ with someone, you do not know exactly what their attitude to you is.
No-one knows where they ~ with him; he is utterly unpredictable...
VERB: where V with n
11.
You can use ~ instead of ‘be’ when you are describing the present state or condition of something or someone.
The alliance ~s ready to do what is necessary...
The peace plan as it ~s violates basic human rights.
V-LINK: V adj, V
12.
If a decision, law, or offer ~s, it still exists and has not been changed or cancelled.
Although exceptions could be made, the rule still ~s...
VERB: V
13.
If something that can be measured ~s at a particular level, it is at that level.
The inflation rate now ~s at 3.6 per cent...
VERB: V at amount
14.
You can describe how tall or high someone or something is by saying that they ~ a particular height.
She stood five feet five inches tall and weighed 120 pounds...
She stood tall and aloof.
VERB: V amount adj, V adj
15.
If something can ~ a situation or a test, it is good enough or strong enough to experience it without being damaged, harmed, or shown to be inadequate.
These are the first machines that can ~ the wear and tear of continuously crushing glass...
VERB: V n
16.
If you cannot ~ something, you cannot bear it or tolerate it.
I can’t ~ any more. I’m going to run away...
How does he ~ the pain?
VERB: V n/-ing, V n/-ing
17.
If you cannot ~ someone or something, you dislike them very strongly. (INFORMAL)
He can’t ~ me smoking.
= bear
VERB: V n/-ing
18.
If you ~ to gain something, you are likely to gain it. If you ~ to lose something, you are likely to lose it.
The management group would ~ to gain millions of dollars if the company were sold...
VERB: V to-inf
19.
If you ~ in an election, you are a candidate in it. (BRIT; in AM, use run )
He has not yet announced whether he will ~ in the election...
VERB: V in n
20.
A ~ is a small shop or stall, outdoors or in a large public building.
She bought a hot dog from a ~ on a street corner.
= stall
N-COUNT: oft n N
see also news~
21.
A ~ at a sports ground is a large structure where people sit or ~ to watch what is happening. (BRIT)
N-COUNT
•
In American English, ~s is used with same meaning.
The people in the ~s at Candlestick Park are ~ing and cheering with all their might.
N-PLURAL
22.
A ~ is an object or piece of furniture that is designed for supporting or holding a particular kind of thing.
The teapot came with a ~ to catch the drips.
N-COUNT
23.
A ~ is an area where taxis or buses can wait to pick up passengers.
Luckily there was a taxi ~ nearby.
N-COUNT: usu n N
24.
In a law court, the ~ is the place where a witness ~s to answer questions.
When the father took the ~ today, he contradicted his son’s testimony...
N-SING: the N
25.
see also ~ing
26.
If you say it ~s to reason that something is true or likely to happen, you mean that it is obvious.
It ~s to reason that if you are considerate and friendly to people you will get a lot more back...
PHRASE: V inflects, usu it PHR that
27.
If you ~ in the way of something or ~ in a person’s way, you prevent that thing from happening or prevent that person from doing something.
The British government would not ~ in the way of such a proposal...
PHRASE: V inflects
28.
to ~ a chance: see chance
to ~ up and be counted: see count
to ~ firm: see firm
to ~ on your own two feet: see foot
to ~ your ground: see ground
to ~ someone in good stead: see stead
to ~ trial: see trial