standing

[ stan-ding ]

noun

1. rank or status, especially with respect to social, economic, or personal position, reputation, etc.:

   He had little standing in the community.

2. good position, reputation, or credit:

   He is a merchant of standing in the community.

3. length of existence, continuance, residence, membership, experience, etc.:

   a friend of long standing.

4. standings, Sports. a list of teams or contestants arranged according to their past records:

   According to the standings, the White Sox are leading the division by three games.

5. the act of a person or thing that stands.
6. a place where a person or thing stands.
7. Law. the right to initiate or participate in a legal action:

   having standing as a friend of the court.

adjective

1. having an erect or upright position:

   a standing lamp.

2. performed in or from an erect position:

   a standing jump.

3. still; not flowing or stagnant, as water; stationary.
4. continuing without cessation or change; lasting or permanent.
5. continuing in operation, force, use, etc.:

   a standing rule.

6. customary or habitual; generally understood:

   We have a standing bridge game every Friday night.

7. Printing. kept for use in subsequent printings:

   standing type.

8. out of use; idle:

   a standing engine.

9. Nautical. noting any of various objects or assemblages of objects fixed in place or position, unless moved for adjustment or repairs:

   standing bowsprit.

10. Knots. noting the part of a rope that is in use and terminates in a knot or the like.

standing

/ ˈstændɪŋ /

noun

1. social or financial position, status, or reputation

   a man of some standing

2. length of existence, experience, etc
3. modifier used to stand in or on

   standing room

adjective

1. athletics
   1. (of the start of a race) begun from a standing position without the use of starting blocks
   2. (of a jump, leap, etc) performed from a stationary position without a run-up
2. prenominal permanent, fixed, or lasting
3. prenominal still or stagnant

   a standing pond

4. printing (of type) set and stored for future use Compare dead

Other Word Forms

• un·standing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of standing¹

A Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; stand, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Synonym Study

See credit.

Example Sentences

It could also transform the balance of global power in ways that fundamentally undermine U.S. standing in the world.

From Los Angeles Times

Many of the exercises are done kneeling or standing up.

From Los Angeles Times

In his new essay at the LA Progressive, Henry Giroux writes that "We are not standing at the edge of fascism—we are living through its rehearsal, its staging ground, its opening act."

From Salon

Viewed by torchlight, it is so small an average-sized person would have difficulty standing up straight.

From BBC

He then drove 20 minutes to Thousand Oaks and slammed his Toyota Camry into a group of students standing outside Westlake High School around 3:40 p.m.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• place
• prestige
• reputation
• stature
• status