1 C1 idiomatic formal
(Military) To take up a prepared defensive position and be fully alert and ready for action.
"The sergeant ordered his platoon to stand to at 0500 hours, just before first light."
inseparable
stand to
C1 formal inseparable intransitive
A military command to take up defensive positions and be fully alert, typically at dawn or dusk.
In plain English
A military order for soldiers to get ready for a possible attack.
What does "stand to" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To stand up to a position of readiness.
Actually means
A military order for soldiers to get ready for a possible attack.
Usage tip
Primarily a military term. 'Stand-to' (noun, hyphenated) refers to the period when soldiers man their positions at the times when attacks are most likely (dawn and dusk). Rarely encountered outside military contexts.
Words that pair with "stand to"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
dawn dusk soldiers troops positions alert
How to conjugate "stand to"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
stand to
I/you/we/they
3rd person
stands to
he/she/it
Past simple
stood to
yesterday
Past participle
stood to
have + pp
-ing form
standing to
continuous
Hear "stand to" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "stand to" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "stand to"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
go to battle stations man positions stand ready take alert
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