To move from a sitting or lying position to an upright standing position.
"Everyone stood up when the judge entered the courtroom."
Stand up for Alabama!
— Common chant at Alabama college football games, widely documented
To rise to a vertical position, to withstand scrutiny, or to fail to meet someone as planned.
To get on your feet, to not break under pressure, or to not show up when someone is expecting you.
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To move from a sitting or lying position to an upright standing position.
"Everyone stood up when the judge entered the courtroom."
Stand up for Alabama!
— Common chant at Alabama college football games, widely documented
To remain valid, convincing, or unbroken when examined closely or put under pressure.
"His alibi didn't stand up when the police checked the security footage."
(Informal) To fail to meet someone for a planned date or appointment without telling them.
"He stood her up on their first date and never even sent a message to explain."
To physically place something in an upright position.
"Stand the ladder up against the wall before you climb it."
To rise from a seated or lying position to stand upright.
To get on your feet, to not break under pressure, or to not show up when someone is expecting you.
The 'fail to meet' sense (e.g., 'He stood me up') is informal and very common in social contexts. 'Stand-up comedy' (noun) is a related derivative. 'Stand up' is also used as an adjective to mean honest and reliable ('a stand-up guy').
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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