standing

1 of 2

adjective

stand·​ing ˈstan-diŋ How to pronounce standing (audio)
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

standing

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a place to stand in : location
b
: a position from which one may assert or enforce legal rights and duties
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
c
: position relative to a standard of achievement or to achievements of competitors
also, standings plural : a listing of the standings of individuals or teams (as in a league)
3
: maintenance of position or condition : duration
a custom of long standing

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
This prompted a standing ovation and choruses of pro-Trump chants. Charles Duhigg, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024 In the biopic, Jolie, 49, transforms into the late opera singer Maria Callas, and prior to Sunday’s carpet, the mom of six was riding high from Maria garnering strong reviews as well as earning standing ovations at the Venice Film Festival, where Jolie cried, and the Telluride Film Festival. Brian Anthony Hernandez, People.com, 29 Sep. 2024
Noun
Going int Saturday, the Sharks sat tied for 30th place in the NHL’s overall standings with 13 points. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024 Continue reading here Advertisement MORE LAKERS: Anthony Davis and LeBron James can’t mask Lakers’ issues in loss to Pistons Lakers box score Advertisement NBA scores NBA standings Enjoying this newsletter? Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for standing 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of standing was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near standing

Cite this Entry

“Standing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standing. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

standing

1 of 2 adjective
stand·​ing ˈstan-diŋ How to pronounce standing (audio)
1
a
: not yet cut or harvested
standing timber
b
: upright on the feet or base : erect
a standing pose
2
a
: not flowing : stagnant
standing water
b
: remaining at the same level, degree, or amount until canceled
a standing offer
c
: continuing in existence or use for an unlimited length of time : permanent
a standing army
standing committees
3
: done from a standing position
standing jump
a standing ovation

standing

2 of 2 noun
1
: 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 noun
1
: 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 claimHawaii'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

More from Merriam-Webster on standing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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