Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
stand on (intransitive)
  1. (adverb) to continue to navigate a vessel on the same heading
  2. (preposition) to insist on: to stand on ceremony
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
stand /stænd/USA pronunciation   v., stood/stʊd/USA pronunciation  stand•ing, n. 
v. 
  1. to be in an upright position on the feet:[no object]standing by the door when I came in.
  2. to (cause someone to) rise to one's feet: [no object; ~ (+ up)]We stood (up) when the president entered the room.[+ object + up]stood the toddler back up after she fell.
  3. to have a certain height when in this position:[not: be + -ing* ~ + a noun showing measurement]He stands six feet tall.
  4. to remain the same, esp. unused:[no object]The bicycle has stood in the garage all winter.
  5. to take a position as indicated:[no object]to stand aside.
  6. (of things) to (cause to) rest in an upright position: [no object]The broom stood in the corner.[+ object]He stood the broom in the corner.
  7. to be located or situated:[no object]The building stands upon the hill.
  8. (of a score, etc.) to remain as indicated:[usually: not: be + ~-ing* ~ (+ at) + a noun indicating number or amount]The score stands (at) 18 to 14.
  9. to continue in force;
    remain valid:[no object]My offer still stands.
  10. to be or remain in a specified state or condition: [no object]Where do I stand in the competition?[+ adjective]I stand corrected.[+ to + verb]He stands to gain quite a lot from his wife's death.
  11. British Terms[Chiefly Brit.]to be a candidate, as for public office:[+ for + object]to stand for Parliament.
  12. to submit to;
    be forced to go through:[+ object]to stand trial for murder.
  13. to be able to tolerate;
    resist;
    endure:[+ object]My eyes can't stand the glare.
  14. to perform one's job or duty as:[+ object]to stand watch aboard ship; He stood guard over the prisoners.
  15. stand by:
    • [+ by + object] to uphold;
      support:Stand by your parents in their time of need.
    • [+ by + object] to remain firm about (something);
      be loyal to:I stand by my original statement.
    • [no object] to wait, esp. in anticipation:Please stand by, we're having technical difficulties.
    • [no object] to be ready to board (an airplane, etc.) as an alternate passenger.
  16. stand down, [no object]
    • Lawto leave the witness stand:The judge told the witness to stand down.
    • to step aside, as from a competition.
  17. stand for, [+ for + object]
    • [not: be + ~-ing] to represent;
      symbolize:P.S. stands for "postscript.''
    • to advocate;
      favor:The candidate says she stands for more aid to education.
    • [with negative words or phrases] to tolerate;
      allow;
      accept or put up with:"I won't stand for any nonsense,'' the teacher said.
  18. stand in, [no object*  (+ in + for + object) ] to be a substitute (for):No, I'm not the supervisor, I'm just standing in (for her) until she comes back.
  19. stand off:
    • [no object] to keep or stay at a distance:The planes stood off and circled overhead.
    • to repel or evade: [+ off + object]Our troops stood off the latest assault.[+ object + off]As for their army, our troops stood them off last time, too.
  20. stand on, [+ on + object] to be based on;
    depend on;
    rest on:The house stood on sand.
  21. stand out, [no object]
    • to stick out past something:The pier stands out from the harbor walls.
    • to be noticed easily, on account of fame, etc.:She stands out in a crowd.
  22. stand up:
    • [no object] to be or remain convincing:That evidence won't stand up in court.
    • [no object] to last long;
      be durable:Wool stands up better than silk.
    • to fail to keep an appointment with: [+ up + object]She stood up several of my friends.[+ object + up]She stood him up on their last two dates.
  23. stand up for, [+ up + for + object]
    • to defend;
      support:You have to stand up for your children.
  24. stand up to, [+ up + to + object] to meet (danger, difficulty, etc.) without fear;
    confront:If you stand up to that bully, he'll back down.

n. [countable]
  1. the act of standing.
  2. a halt or stop.
  3. a final defensive effort:Custer's last stand.
  4. a policy, position, opinion, etc., with respect to a (usually controversial) issue:We must take a stand on sex education.
  5. Lawwitness stand:Before you take the stand I must remind you that you are still under oath.
  6. a raised platform, as for a speaker, a band, etc.
  7. stands, [plural] a raised section of seats for spectators;
    grandstand.
  8. a framework on or in which articles are placed for storing, support, or display:an umbrella stand.
  9. a stall, booth, or the like where articles are displayed for sale:a fruit stand.
  10. a place to wait for taxis:a taxi stand.
  11. a stop on the tour of a theater company, a rock group, etc., esp. for a single performance:a one-night stand in the small university town.
Idioms
  1. Idioms stand to reason, [not: be + ~-ing* it + ~ + to reason] to be logical or reasonable:It stands to reason that he'll choose her; he always makes the right choice.

stand•er, n. [countable]See -stan-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
stand (stand),USA pronunciation  v., stood, stand•ing, n., pl. stands for 43–63, stands, stand for 64.

v.i. 
  1. (of a person) to be in an upright position on the feet.
  2. to rise to one's feet (often fol. by up).
  3. to have a specified height when in this position:a basketball player who stands six feet seven inches.
  4. to stop or remain motionless or steady on the feet.
  5. to take a position or place as indicated:to stand aside.
  6. to remain firm or steadfast, as in a cause.
  7. to take up or maintain a position or attitude with respect to a person, issue, or the like:to stand as sponsor for a person.
  8. to have or adopt a certain policy, course, or attitude, as of adherence, support, opposition, or resistance:He stands for free trade.
  9. (of things) to be in an upright or vertical position, be set on end, or rest on or as on a support.
  10. to be set, placed, fixed, located, or situated:The building stands at 34th Street and 5th Avenue.
  11. (of an account, score, etc.) to show, be, or remain as indicated;
    show the specified position of the parties concerned:The score stood 18 to 14 at the half.
  12. to remain erect or whole;
    resist change, decay, or destruction (often fol. by up):The ruins still stand. The old building stood up well.
  13. to continue in force or remain valid:The agreement stands as signed.
  14. to remain still, stationary, or unused:The bicycle stood in the basement all winter.
  15. to be or become stagnant, as water.
  16. (of persons or things) to be or remain in a specified state, condition, relation, relative position, etc.:He stood in jeopardy of losing his license.
  17. to have the possibility or likelihood:He stands to gain a sizable profit through the sale of the house.
  18. British Terms[Chiefly Brit.]to become or be a candidate, as for public office (usually fol. by for).
  19. Naval Terms[Naut.]
    • , Nautical, Naval Termsto take or hold a particular course at sea.
    • , Nautical, Naval Termsto move in a certain direction:to stand offshore.
  20. Animal Husbandry(of a male domestic animal, esp. a stud) to be available as a sire, usually for a fee:Three Derby winners are now standing in Kentucky.

v.t. 
  1. to cause to stand;
    set upright;
    set:Stand the chair by the lamp.
  2. to face or encounter:to stand an assault.
  3. to undergo or submit to:to stand trial.
  4. to endure or undergo without harm or damage or without giving way:His eyes are strong enough to stand the glare.
  5. British Termsto endure or tolerate:She can't stand her father.
  6. to treat or pay for:I'll stand you to a drink when the manuscript is in.
  7. to perform the duty of or participate in as part of one's job or duty:to stand watch aboard ship.
  8. stand a chance or show, to have a chance or possibility, esp. of winning or surviving:He's a good shortstop but doesn't stand a chance of making the major leagues because he can't hit.
  9. stand by:
    • to uphold;
      support:She stood by him whenever he was in trouble.
    • to adhere to (an agreement, promise, etc.);
      affirm:She stood by her decision despite her sister's arguments.
    • to stand ready;
      wait:Please stand by while I fix this antenna.
    • to get ready to speak, act, etc., as at the beginning of a radio or television program.
    • to be ready to board a plane, train, or other transport if accommodations become available at the last minute.
  10. stand down:
    • Lawto leave the witness stand.
    • to step aside;
      withdraw, as from a competition:I agreed to stand down so that she could run for the nomination unopposed.
    • to leave or take out of active work or service:to stand down some of the ships in the fleet.
  11. stand for:
    • to represent;
      symbolize:P.S. stands for "postscript.''
    • to advocate;
      favor:He stands for both freedom and justice.
    • [Informal.]to tolerate;
      allow:I won't stand for any nonsense!
  12. stand in with:
    • to be in association or conspiracy with.
    • to enjoy the favor of;
      be on friendly terms with.
  13. stand off:
    • to keep or stay at a distance.
    • to put off;
      evade.
  14. stand on:
    • to depend on;
      rest on:The case stands on his testimony.
    • to be particular about;
      demand:to stand on ceremony.
    • Naval Terms[Naut.]to maintain a course and speed.
  15. stand out:
    • to project;
      protrude:The piers stand out from the harbor wall.
    • to be conspicuous or prominent:She stands out in a crowd.
    • to persist in opposition or resistance;
      be inflexible.
    • Naval Terms[Naut.]to maintain a course away from shore.
  16. stand over:
    • to supervise very closely;
      watch constantly:He won't work unless someone stands over him.
    • to put aside temporarily;
      postpone:to let a project stand over until the following year.
  17. Games stand pat. See pat 2 (def. 6).
  18. stand to:
    • to continue to hold;
      persist in:to stand to one's statement.
    • to keep at steadily:Stand to your rowing, men!
    • to wait in readiness;
      stand by:Stand to for action.
  19. stand to reason. See reason (def. 11).
  20. stand up:
    • to come to or remain in a standing position:to stand up when being introduced.
    • to remain strong, convincing, or durable:The case will never stand up in court. Wool stands up better than silk.
    • [Slang.]to fail to keep an appointment with (someone, esp. a sweetheart or date):I waited for Kim for an hour before I realized I'd been stood up.
  21. stand up for:
    • to defend the cause of;
      support:No one could understand why he stood up for an incorrigible criminal.
    • to serve a bridegroom or bride, as best man or maid (matron) of honor.
  22. stand up to, to meet or deal with fearlessly;
    confront:to stand up to a bully.

n. 
  1. the act of standing;
    an assuming of or a remaining in an upright position.
  2. a cessation of motion;
    halt or stop.
  3. a determined effort for or against something, esp. a final defensive effort:Custer's last stand.
  4. a determined policy, position, attitude, etc., taken or maintained:We must take a stand on political issues.
  5. the place in which a person or thing stands;
    station.
  6. LawSee witness stand. 
  7. a raised platform, as for a speaker, a band, or the like.
  8. stands, a raised section of seats for spectators;
    grandstand.
  9. a framework on or in which articles are placed for support, exhibition, etc.:a hat stand.
  10. Furniturea piece of furniture of various forms, on or in which to put articles (often used in combination):a nightstand; a washstand.
  11. Furniturea small, light table.
  12. a stall, booth, counter, or the like, where articles are displayed for sale or where some business is carried on:a fruit stand.
  13. newsstand:The papers usually hit the stands at 5 a.m.
  14. a site or location for business:After 20 years the ice-cream vendor was still at the same stand.
  15. a place or station occupied by vehicles available for hire:a taxicab stand.
  16. the vehicles occupying such a place.
  17. Botanythe growing trees, or those of a particular species or grade, in a given area.
  18. Botanya standing growth, as of grass, wheat, etc.
  19. a halt of a theatrical company on tour, to give a performance or performances:a series of one-night stands on the strawhat trail.
  20. the town at which a touring theatrical company gives a performance.
  21. hive (def. 2).
  22. Metallurgya rolling unit in a rolling mill.
  23. Military[Chiefly Brit.]a complete set of arms or accoutrements for one soldier.
  24. Law take the stand, to testify in a courtroom.
  • bef. 900; Middle English standen (verb, verbal), Old English standan; cognate with Old Saxon standan, Middle Dutch standen, Old High German stantan, standa, standan; akin to Latin stāre to stand, sistere, Greek histánai to make stand, Sanskrit sthā to stand, Old Irish at-tá (he) is
    • 25.See corresponding entry in Unabridged abide, stomach. See bear 1.

'stand on' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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