noun · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈɡɹæn(d)stænd/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:G R AE1 N D S T AE2 N D
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The seating area at a stadium or arena; the bleachers.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The audience at a public event.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To behave dramatically or showily to impress an audience or observers; to pander to a crowd.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
Many politicians prefer to grandstand on hot-button issues rather than enact tough policy changes.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
a stand at a racecourse or stadium consisting of tiers with rows of individual seats that are under a protective roof
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: covered stand
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: stand
5
noun
Meaning 5
the audience at a stadium or racetrack
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: audience
6
verb
Meaning 6
perform ostentatiously in order to impress the audience and with an eye to the applause
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
She never misses a chance to grandstand
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: perform
History
Etymology
From grand + stand.
Across languages
Translations
58 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
трибуна
(tribuna)
— seating area
Chinese Mandarin:
看台
(kàntái)
— seating area
Czech:
hlediště
— seating area
Czech:
bariéry
— seating area
Dutch:
tribune
— seating area
Finnish:
katsomo
— seating area
French:
tribune
— seating area
German:
Tribüne
— seating area
German:
Zuschauertribüne
— seating area
German:
Sitzreihen
— seating area
German:
Zuschauersitzplätze
— seating area
Italian:
tribuna
— seating area
Japanese:
観覧席
(kanranseki)
— seating area
Macedonian:
гледалиште
(gledalište)
— seating area
Macedonian:
триби́на
(tribína)
— seating area
Manx:
ardan soie
— seating area
Polish:
trybuna
— seating area
Portuguese:
arquibancada
— seating area
Portuguese:
bancada
— seating area
Russian:
трибу́на
(tribúna)
— seating area
Russian:
места́ для зри́телей
(mestá dlja zrítelej)
— seating area
Spanish:
gradas
— seating area
Spanish:
gradería
— seating area
Spanish:
graderío
— seating area
Spanish:
palco
— seating area
Spanish:
platea
— seating area
Spanish:
lunetario
— seating area
Spanish:
patio de butacas
— seating area
Spanish:
orquesta
— seating area
Spanish:
orquestra (disused)
— seating area
Thai:
อัฒจันทร์
(àt-tá-jan)
— seating area
Turkish:
tribün
— seating area
Welsh:
eisteddle
— seating area
Bulgarian:
публика
(publika)
— audience
Dutch:
toeschouwers
— audience
Finnish:
katsomo
— audience
French:
tribune
— audience
Italian:
pubblico
— audience
Polish:
publiczność
— audience
Russian:
пу́блика
(públika)
— audience
Russian:
зри́тели
(zríteli)
— audience
Spanish:
audiencia
— audience
Spanish:
público
— audience
Spanish:
graderío
— audience
Spanish:
grada
— audience
Bulgarian:
парадирам
(paradiram)
— to behave dramatically
Bulgarian:
играя за публиката
(igraja za publikata)
— to behave dramatically
German:
sich aufspielen
— to behave dramatically
German:
sich theatralisch geben
— to behave dramatically
German:
eine Nummer abziehen
— to behave dramatically
German:
sich profilieren
— to behave dramatically
Hungarian:
feltűnősködik
— to behave dramatically
Italian:
mettersi in mostra
— to behave dramatically
Italian:
attirare l'attenzione su di sé
— to behave dramatically
Polish:
grać pod publiczkę
— to behave dramatically
Spanish:
mirar al tendido
— to behave dramatically