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stand up

A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive

To rise to a vertical position, to withstand scrutiny, or to fail to meet someone as planned.

In plain English

To get on your feet, to not break under pressure, or to not show up when someone is expecting you.

What does "stand up" mean?

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

1 A2 neutral

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
inseparable
2 B1 idiomatic neutral

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."

inseparable
3 B1 idiomatic informal

(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."

separable
4 A2 neutral

To physically place something in an upright position.

"Stand the ladder up against the wall before you climb it."

separable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

To rise from a seated or lying position to stand upright.

Actually means

To get on your feet, to not break under pressure, or to not show up when someone is expecting you.

Usage tip

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').

Words that pair with "stand up"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

date meeting evidence scrutiny comedian ovation

How to conjugate "stand up"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base
stand up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
stands up
he/she/it
Past simple
stood up
yesterday
Past participle
stood up
have + pp
-ing form
standing up
continuous

Hear "stand up" in the wild

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

Other ways to say "stand up"

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

bail on get to your feet ghost hold up rise withstand

Keep exploring

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