Standard Lemma guide

standby

noun · verb · 9 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.

  • /ˈstændˌbaɪ̯/ without æ-raising
  • [ˈstændˌbaɪ̯] without æ-raising
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Canada, US: /ˈsteə̯ndˌbaɪ̯/
  • Canada, US: /ˈstɛə̯ndˌbaɪ̯/
  • Australian: /ˈstɛːndˌbɑ̟ɪ̯/
  • /ˌstændˈbaɪ̯/ without æ-raising
  • [ˌstændˈbaɪ̯] without æ-raising
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Canada, US: /ˌsteə̯ndˈbaɪ̯/
  • Canada, US: /ˌstɛə̯ndˈbaɪ̯/
  • Australian: /ˌstɛːndˈbɑ̟ɪ̯/
  • CMU ARPABET: S T AE1 N D B AY1 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A state of readiness without immediate involvement; remaining in preparation for (a sudden or unforeseen event or situation).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • The troops were on standby in case of an attack.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A replacement kept on standby.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Sleep mode.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: business, electrical-engineering, electricity, electromagnetism, electronics, energy, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Waiting at the airport in the hope of getting a seat on a flight that is already booked out.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: lifestyle, tourism, transport, travel

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

Something that is standard, well-tested, or frequently used.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • That recipe is an old standby, and she keeps the ingredients around in case of unexpected guests.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To wait briefly, as for additional communication by radio or telephone; alternative form of stand by.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: nonstandard, proscribed

Qualifier: operations

Examples

  • Standby while I check that for you.
  • For quotations using this term, see Citations:standby.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

adjective satellite

Meaning 7

ready for emergency use

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a standby generator
  • a standby crew

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

something that can be relied on when needed

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: thing

9

noun

Meaning 9

an actor able to replace a regular performer when required

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: understudy

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: actor, histrion, player, thespian, role player

History

Etymology

Deverbal from stand by.

Across languages

Translations

33 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: гото́вност (gotóvnost) — state of readiness without immediate involvement
  • Danish: beredskab — state of readiness without immediate involvement
  • Finnish: valmiustila — state of readiness without immediate involvement
  • Finnish: valmius — state of readiness without immediate involvement
  • German: Bereitschaft — state of readiness without immediate involvement
  • Greek: αναμονή (anamoní) — state of readiness without immediate involvement
  • Hungarian: készenlét — state of readiness without immediate involvement
  • Hungarian: készültség — state of readiness without immediate involvement
  • Hungarian: harckészültség — state of readiness without immediate involvement
  • Māori: tūtatari — state of readiness without immediate involvement
  • Romanian: stare standby — state of readiness without immediate involvement
  • Romanian: standby — state of readiness without immediate involvement
  • Romanian: așteptare — state of readiness without immediate involvement
  • Russian: гото́вность (gotóvnostʹ) — state of readiness without immediate involvement
  • Russian: состоя́ние гото́вности (sostojánije gotóvnosti) — state of readiness without immediate involvement
  • Bulgarian: гото́вност (gotóvnost) — sleep mode of an electrical device
  • Catalan: mode d'espera — sleep mode of an electrical device
  • French: veille — sleep mode of an electrical device
  • Hungarian: készenlét — sleep mode of an electrical device
  • Hungarian: készenléti üzemmód — sleep mode of an electrical device
  • Catalan: sense reserva — waiting at the airport in the hope of getting a seat on a flight that is already booked out
  • Russian: ожидание (ožidanije) — waiting at the airport in the hope of getting a seat on a flight that is already booked out
  • Finnish: hätävara — something that is standard, well-tested, or frequently used
  • German: verlässliche und bewährte Sache — something that is standard, well-tested, or frequently used
  • Greek: εφεδρικός (efedrikós) — something that is standard, well-tested, or frequently used
  • Hungarian: (jól) bevált (módszer/megoldás) — something that is standard, well-tested, or frequently used
  • Bulgarian: стоя в състояние на готовност (stoja v sǎstojanie na gotovnost) — to wait briefly
  • Finnish: odottaa hetki — to wait briefly
  • German: dranbleiben — to wait briefly
  • German: kurz warten — to wait briefly
  • German: abwarten — to wait briefly
  • German: in Wartestellung bleiben — to wait briefly
  • Māori: tūtatari — to wait briefly