What does "stand aside" mean (sense 1)?

To move to the side so that someone or something can pass. Example: "The security guard stood aside and waved us through the gate."

What does "stand aside" mean (sense 2)?

To voluntarily withdraw from a role, position, or competition, often to allow someone else to take over. Example: "The party leader agreed to stand aside and let a younger candidate run in the election."

What does "stand aside" mean (sense 3)?

To choose not to become involved in a situation, especially when action might be expected. Example: "We cannot stand aside while innocent people are suffering."

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stand aside

B1 neutral inseparable intransitive

To move to the side to allow passage, or to withdraw from a role or situation.

In plain English

To move out of the way, or to stop being involved in something so someone else can take over.

What does "stand aside" mean?

3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 A2 neutral

common

To move to the side so that someone or something can pass.

"The security guard stood aside and waved us through the gate."

inseparable

2 B2 idiomatic formal

common

To voluntarily withdraw from a role, position, or competition, often to allow someone else to take over.

"The party leader agreed to stand aside and let a younger candidate run in the election."

“

I have decided to stand aside as leader of the Labour Party.
— Jeremy Corbyn, resignation speech, September 2020

inseparable

3 B2 idiomatic formal

uncommon

To choose not to become involved in a situation, especially when action might be expected.

"We cannot stand aside while innocent people are suffering."

inseparable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To physically step to the side.

Actually means

To move out of the way, or to stop being involved in something so someone else can take over.

Usage tip

Used both literally (move physically sideways) and figuratively (withdraw from a role or decision). The figurative sense of stepping down from power is common in political and professional contexts.

Words that pair with "stand aside"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

leader candidate position role way politics

How to conjugate "stand aside"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base

stand aside

I/you/we/they

3rd person

stands aside

he/she/it

Past simple

stood aside

yesterday

Past participle

stood aside

have + pp

-ing form

standing aside

continuous

Hear "stand aside" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "stand aside" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "stand aside"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

give way move aside step aside step back withdraw yield

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.

All phrasal verbs with "stand" All phrasal verbs with "aside" More B1-level phrasal verbs