stand

/stænd/ verb (stood, stood)

Definition

› [I] to be in a particular state or situation: As things stand, the existing rules are not working in favour of competition. Office blocks all over the city are standing empty. They stand accused of backdating stock options to coincide with the lowest possible share price. stand divided/united

› [I] to be at or reach a particular level: stand at sth The country's national debt stands at $55 billion.

› [I] UK POLITICS to compete in a election for an official position: She's decided to stand for re-election. He was persuaded to stand against the party leader in the upcoming election.

› [I] to have a particular opinion on something: stand on sth Where does the party stand on immigration?

› [I] if an offer, a decision, or a record still stands, it still exists and has not been changed: They have not made a second bid for the company but their original offer still stands. The commission declared that the election results should stand.

stand a chance (of doing sth) › to be likely to do sth: These ambitious projects only stand a chance of happening if they get generous financial backing. I don't think they stand a chance of winning the election.

stand bail (for sb) › UK LAW to pay money to show that you promise that someone accused of a crime will come to a court of law to be judged: A friend asked me to stand bail for his son.

stand or fall by/on sth › to depend completely on something to be able to succeed: Governments stand or fall by their economic performance.

stand pat (on sth) › US to refuse to change a decision or the way you do something: The party is standing pat on the issue of immigration reform.

stand the test of time › to be popular or successful for a long time: We only invest in companies with established brands that have stood the test of time.

stand to do sth › to be in a situation in which it is possible or likely that something will happen to you: stand to gain/lose/win Our firm stands to lose a lot of money if the deal doesn't go through.

stand trial › LAW to be judged in a court of law after being accused of illegal behaviour: Roberts will stand trial next week for insider trading.

(Definition of stand verb from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)