1 B1 neutral
To take someone's place temporarily, especially in a performance or professional role.
"When the lead singer fell ill, her understudy had to stand in at the last minute."
inseparable
stand in
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To act as a substitute or replacement for someone who is absent.
In plain English
To do someone else's job for a while when they can't be there.
What does "stand in" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
(Film) To take an actor's place on set while lighting and camera positions are being prepared.
"The stand-in was used on set for three hours while the director of photography adjusted the lighting."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To physically stand in a particular spot — transparent in the performance context.
Actually means
To do someone else's job for a while when they can't be there.
Usage tip
Commonly used in performance, broadcasting, and workplace contexts. A 'stand-in' (noun) refers to the person doing this, and is also used in film to refer to the person who takes an actor's place during lighting setups.
Words that pair with "stand in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
teacher director actor colleague presenter manager
How to conjugate "stand in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
stand in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
stands in
he/she/it
Past simple
stood in
yesterday
Past participle
stood in
have + pp
-ing form
standing in
continuous
Hear "stand in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "stand in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "stand in"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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