51Թ

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View synonyms for

standby

Or stand-by

[stand-bahy]

noun

plural

standbys 
  1. a staunch supporter or adherent; one who can be relied upon.

  2. something upon which one can rely and therefore choose or use regularly.

  3. something or someone held ready to serve as a substitute, especially a radio or television program used as a filler in case of cancellation of a regularly scheduled program.

  4. a traveler who is waiting for last-minute accommodations to become available on a plane, train, or other transport as a result of a cancellation.



adjective

  1. kept readily available for use in an emergency, shortage, or the like.

    a standby player.

  2. of or relating to last-minute accommodations, the transport that offers them, or a traveler who is waiting for them.

    a standby flight.

  3. of or relating to a waiting period.

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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of standby1

First recorded in 1790–1800; noun, adj. use of verb phrase stand by
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. on standby, in a state of readiness to act, respond, or be used immediately when needed.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, most recently a former Fox News weekend host, to order active duty military on standby as well.

From

“We have an attorney on standby right now,” he said.

From

It had expected to run out of cash completely by mid-April before it secured a rescue loan and the government has been on standby to put Thames into special administration.

From

Even Vatican firefighters are involved; on standby in case of malfunction.

From

Dozens of Metropolitan Police armed officers downed tools in protest when Sgt Blake was charged with murder and the Army was put on standby.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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