English Meaning & Definitions
A person or thing that is reliable, ready for use, or available as a substitute in case of need.
- โGrilled cheese is my favorite quick standby when I don't know what to cook.โ
- โThe hospital has emergency generators on standby in case the main power grid fails.โ
A passenger waiting for an unbooked or cancelled seat on a flight or other transport, or the waiting status itself.
- โWe were placed on standby and hoped a couple of seats would open up before departure.โ
- โDozens of standbys gathered near the gate as boarding began.โ
Kept in readiness for immediate use or operation; held in reserve.
- โRemember to switch off the TV completely rather than leaving it in standby mode to save energy.โ
- โThe fire department kept a standby crew on alert during the severe lightning storm.โ
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for โstandbyโ.
Formed as a compound of the verb 'stand' and the preposition 'by'. Originating in the mid-19th century, it initially described a reliable person or thing ready to offer immediate support. In the 20th century, its meaning expanded to encompass aviation waiting lists and electronic low-power sleep states.
Think of standing by the side, ready to step in the second you are needed.
Frequently Asked Questions About โstandbyโ
1. What is the meaning of โstandbyโ in English?
In English, standby (noun) is defined as: โA person or thing that is reliable, ready for use, or available as a substitute in case of need.โ.
2. How do you use โstandbyโ in a sentence?
โGrilled cheese is my favorite quick standby when I don't know what to cook.โ
3. What are English synonyms of โstandbyโ?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of โstandbyโ?
Formed as a compound of the verb 'stand' and the preposition 'by'. Originating in the mid-19th century, it initially described a reliable person or thing ready to offer immediate support. In the 20th century, its meaning expanded to encompass aviation waiting lists and electronic low-power sleep states.
๐ฌ๐งMore English Words to English
View all English words โThe base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.