stand up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral to informal (depending on sense)
Quick answer
What does “stand up” mean?
To rise from a sitting, kneeling, or lying position to an upright position on one's feet.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To rise from a sitting, kneeling, or lying position to an upright position on one's feet.
To remain valid, convincing, or durable under scrutiny or pressure; to defend or support someone or something; to fail to appear for an appointment or date.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The 'fail to appear' sense is slightly more informal in British English. The phrase 'stand someone up' (romantic context) is equally common.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'stand up for' implies moral support/defense. 'Stand up to' implies resistance. The noun 'stand-up' (comedy) is identical.
Frequency
All core meanings are high frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “stand up” in a Sentence
stand up (intransitive)stand up [for NP] (transitive prep.)stand up [to NP] (transitive prep.)stand [NP] up (transitive sep.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stand up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The congregation will stand up for the final hymn.
- Your alibi won't stand up in court, I'm afraid.
- It's rude to stand someone up without letting them know.
American English
- Please stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance.
- His claims don't stand up to fact-checking.
- She got stood up on her first Tinder date.
adverb
British English
- The statue was placed stand-up in the square. (Rare, often hyphenated as adjective)
- He drank his pint stand-up at the bar.
American English
- We ate stand-up at the kitchen counter. (Rare)
- The meeting was conducted stand-up to keep it short.
adjective
British English
- He's a well-known stand-up comedian.
- We had a stand-up argument on the high street.
American English
- She does stand-up comedy in Brooklyn.
- They had a stand-up fight in the parking lot.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The data must stand up to audit." (Withstand scrutiny)
Academic
"The hypothesis did not stand up to rigorous testing." (Prove valid)
Everyday
"Please stand up when the headteacher enters." (Rise) / "He stood me up last night!" (Failed to appear)
Technical
"The material must stand up to extreme temperatures." (Resist)
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stand up”
- *I stood up him. (Correct: I stood him up.) - separable phrasal verb.
- *She stood up me at the cinema. (Correct: She stood me up at the cinema.)
- Using 'stand up' transitively without a pronoun: *He stood up the date. (Acceptable but less common than 'stood the date up').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in the 'fail to appear' sense. 'She stood her friend up' or 'She stood up her friend' (less common). In other senses (stand up for, stand up to), it is inseparable.
'Stand up for' means to defend or support (a person, cause). 'Stand up to' means to resist or confront (a person, challenge) courageously.
Yes, but usually hyphenated: 'stand-up' (e.g., stand-up comedy, a stand-up guy meaning honest/reliable).
The literal meaning is neutral. 'Stand up to scrutiny' is formal. The 'fail to appear' sense is informal/colloquial.
To rise from a sitting, kneeling, or lying position to an upright position on one's feet.
Stand up: in British English it is pronounced /ˌstænd ˈʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌstænd ˈʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “stand up and be counted”
- “stand up on your hind legs”
- “couldn't stand up if you fell down”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person STANDing UP from their chair. For the figurative sense, picture an argument that is so strong it can physically 'stand up' and not fall over when attacked.
Conceptual Metaphor
VALIDITY/STRENGTH IS ERECT POSTURE (e.g., 'The theory stands up.'); MORAL COURAGE IS PHYSICAL RISING (e.g., 'Stand up for your rights.').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'stand up' mean 'to fail to meet someone as planned'?