stood
A1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The past tense and past participle of the verb 'stand,' indicating to be in or assume an upright position on one's feet, or to be situated in a particular location or condition.
Can metaphorically mean to endure, withstand, or remain valid (e.g., 'The offer still stands'), or to be at a particular level or value.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Unlike the base form 'stand,' 'stood' is exclusively a verb form. It is irregular and has no participle distinction (stood/stood). It often implies a completed, static, or resultant state from the action of standing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Minor potential for variation in the spelling of related participles in compound verbs (e.g., 'withstood' is standard in both).
Connotations
Identical connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Extremely high and identical frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
S + stood (intransitive)S + stood + prepositional phrase/locative (S stood by the window)S + stood + adjective (S stood silent)S + stood + particle (S stood up)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “stood the test of time”
- “stood one's ground”
- “stood on ceremony”
- “stood to gain/lose”
- “stood in good stead”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to financial figures or positions (e.g., 'Profits stood at £2 million').
Academic
Used to describe a theoretical position or enduring argument (e.g., 'His theory has stood for decades').
Everyday
Most common for physical positioning and waiting (e.g., 'I stood in the queue for an hour').
Technical
In engineering/physics, can describe a structure's state (e.g., 'The beam stood under immense load').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She stood in the queue for the loo.
- The ancient oak has stood in the village green for centuries.
- He stood as a candidate in the local elections.
- The score stood at two-all.
American English
- He stood in line for the bathroom.
- The old barn has stood on that hill for a hundred years.
- She stood for election to the school board.
- Unemployment stood at five percent.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'stood' is not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - 'stood' is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A - 'stood' is not used as a standard adjective.
American English
- N/A - 'stood' is not used as a standard adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I stood next to my friend.
- The teacher stood at the front of the class.
- He stood up when she entered the room.
- We stood talking for over an hour.
- A strange man stood watching the house.
- The castle has stood on the cliff for 800 years.
- The company's profits stood at a record high last quarter.
- She stood her ground during the difficult negotiation.
- The law, as it stood, was no longer fit for purpose.
- His groundbreaking research has stood the test of time and is still cited today.
- The defendant stood trial on charges of fraud.
- The Prime Minister stood accused of misleading the public.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'STOod' having two 'O's like two feet planted firmly on the ground in the past.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENDURANCE IS STANDING ('stood firm'), VALIDITY IS STANDING ('the rule stands'), A QUANTITY IS A VERTICAL POSITION ('inflation stood at 5%').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'стоял' for abstract 'remained' where Russian allows it but English doesn't (e.g., 'The weather stood bad' is wrong).
- Do not confuse with 'stay' – 'stood' implies an upright position, not just remaining.
- Remember it's irregular; the past is not 'standed'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'standed' (incorrect regularisation).
- Using 'stood' as a present tense verb (e.g., 'I stood here every day' for a habit).
- Confusing 'stood' with 'stayed' (e.g., 'We stood in a hotel' vs. 'We stayed in a hotel').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'stood' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be used for objects, buildings, abstract concepts, and figures (e.g., 'The house stood empty,' 'Inflation stood at 3%').
'Stood' often describes a simple completed past action or a resultant state. 'Was standing' emphasises the action in progress at a specific past time (e.g., 'I stood there for an hour' vs. 'I was standing there when he arrived').
Yes, that is grammatically correct. It uses the present perfect tense to connect a past experience ('stood') to the present moment.
'Have stood' is the present perfect tense (has/have + past participle). 'Stood' alone is the simple past tense. Use present perfect for experiences or actions relevant to now; use simple past for completed actions at a specific past time.