standing

STAN-ding/ˈstændɪŋ/

Noun pluralstandings (some meanings)

13 meanings of standing

Practice

1
be on your feetverb
The -ing form of stand, as in she is standing by the door.
She is standing by the window waiting for you.
We kept standing until the bus finally arrived.
2
reputationnounfigurativelyuncountable
How much respect a person has in their job or community.
Like a score that shows how much people look up to you.
Her years of honest work gave her high standing in the town.
Losing the case hurt his standing among the other lawyers.
UsageWe say high standing in a town, or standing with voters.
Similarstock, rank
3
league positionnouncountable
Where a team or player ranks compared with others in a competition.
Like your place on a scoreboard that shows who is ahead.
Winning the game lifted the team's standing in the league.
After several losses, her standing in the rankings dropped.
UsageThe standings means the whole list of teams in order.
Similarposition, ranking, place, placing
Note
4
done on feetadjective
Done while a person is standing up, not sitting or lying down.
Like jumping without a running start: you do it from where you stand.
The crowd gave a standing ovation at the end.
He set a school record in the standing jump.
UsageMost often in a standing ovation, when people stand up to clap.
Oppositeseated, sitting
5
permanentadjective
Lasting or always in place, not just for one time, like a standing order or a standing army.
Like a rule that stays on until someone turns it off.
They have a standing invitation to visit anytime.
The club keeps a standing rule about wearing helmets.
6
nouncountable or uncountable
The act of being on your feet, or the spot where someone stands.
Like the spot you pick to watch a parade go by.
Hours of standing left her feet aching.
Long hours of standing at work made his back ache.
Similarstation
Note
7
right to suenoununcountable
The legal right to bring a case to court because the matter affects you.
Like needing a ticket to get into a show: without it, you can't take part.
The judge ruled that the group had standing to sue.
Without standing, you cannot file the lawsuit at all.
UsageSay a person has standing to sue, or has no standing.
Note
8
length of timenoununcountable
How long something has gone on or existed.
Their friendship is of long standing.
She is a nurse of twenty years' standing at the city hospital.
UsageUsually in of long standing: a friendship of long standing is an old one.
Similarduration, age
9
fixed in placeadjective
Fixed in one place and not able to be moved.
Before sailing, she checked the standing rigging that holds up the mast.
The bookbinder used a heavy standing press to flatten the new books.
Similarfixed, stationary, immovable, static
Oppositemovable, portable, mobile, moving
Note
10
not flowingadjective
Not moving or flowing, like water that sits in one place.
Like water in a puddle that just sits there going nowhere.
Mosquitoes breed quickly in standing water.
There was standing water in the field after the rain.
Similarstagnant, still, motionless
Oppositeflowing, running

Less common meanings

11
still growingadjective
Still upright in the ground, not yet cut down or harvested.
Like a tree that is still up, before anyone chops it down.
The fire destroyed acres of standing trees.
Standing corn swayed gently in the wind.
Similaruncut, unharvested
Oppositecut
12
parking spacenounBritishuncountable
Space where a car or other vehicle can be parked.
Like a parking spot that belongs to your home.
The cottage has standing for two cars at the rear.
There isn't enough standing in the yard for the lorry.
UsageOften with no a: a house with standing for two cars.
Similarparking, space
Note
13
noundatedUKcountable
The usual spot on a street where a market seller sets up.
Similarpitch, spot
Note

standing is a form of stand

stand, verb: To be on your feet with your body upright, not sitting or lying down. Full entry

Forms: standstands he/she/itstanding -ing formstood past tense, past participle
Spelling: stand → standing: add -ing

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of standing apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1, 4–5, 9–11

This comes from the old English word for 'standing', the present participle of the verb 'to stand'. It is just 'stand' plus '-ing'.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Standing derives from an Old English form meaning 'standing'. en.wiktionary.org
That Old English form is the present participle of the verb meaning 'to stand'. en.wiktionary.org
Standing is equivalent to stand plus -ing. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 2–3, 6–8, 12–13

This comes from 'stand' plus '-ing', a form probably already used in Old English.