standing
Americannoun
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rank or status, especially with respect to social, economic, or personal position, reputation, etc..
He had little standing in the community.
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good position, reputation, or credit.
He is a merchant of standing in the community.
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length of existence, continuance, residence, membership, experience, etc..
a friend of long standing.
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Sports. standings, a list of teams or contestants arranged according to their past records.
According to the standings, the White Sox are leading the division by three games.
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the act of a person or thing that stands.
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a place where a person or thing stands.
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Law. the right to initiate or participate in a legal action.
having standing as a friend of the court.
adjective
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having an erect or upright position.
a standing lamp.
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performed in or from an erect position.
a standing jump.
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still; not flowing or stagnant, as water; stationary.
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continuing without cessation or change; lasting or permanent.
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continuing in operation, force, use, etc..
a standing rule.
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customary or habitual; generally understood.
We have a standing bridge game every Friday night.
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Printing. kept for use in subsequent printings.
standing type.
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out of use; idle.
a standing engine.
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Nautical. noting any of various objects or assemblages of objects fixed in place or position, unless moved for adjustment or repairs.
standing bowsprit.
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Knots. noting the part of a rope that is in use and terminates in a knot or the like.
noun
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social or financial position, status, or reputation
a man of some standing
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length of existence, experience, etc
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(modifier) used to stand in or on
standing room
adjective
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athletics
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(of the start of a race) begun from a standing position without the use of starting blocks
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(of a jump, leap, etc) performed from a stationary position without a run-up
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(prenominal) permanent, fixed, or lasting
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(prenominal) still or stagnant
a standing pond
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printing (of type) set and stored for future use Compare dead
Synonym Usage
See credit.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of standing
A Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at stand, -ing 1, -ing 2
Explanation
The word standing is used for the reputation or rank of a person or institution. The new teacher's standing will be vastly improved if he throws a pizza party once a month. As a noun, standing is frequently used in sports for comparing one team's scores to all the others': "Our standings aren't great, but my softball team is plucky!" It also means "status" or "rank," like the social standing of aristocrats and nobles in medieval society. In law, if you have standing, you have cause to bring a lawsuit against someone else. When you use standing as an adjective, it means "upright" (like your mom's new standing desk) or "permanent" )like your grandparents' standing invitation to visit them any time).
Vocabulary lists containing standing
Vocabulary of the Summer Olympics
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Civilizations and Peoples of the Fertile Crescent, Lessons 3–4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"This is the largest Iranian community outside Iran. Many of us came here after the revolution. We're opposing Fifa's ban and standing in solidarity with the people of Iran."
From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026
For Macron, the summit will be one of his last chances to burnish his international standing and promote his cherished idea of European strategic autonomy before he leaves office next year.
From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026
He could, in theory, win with a knockout punch, but only if he could stay standing.
From Slate • Jun. 14, 2026
Atop the 100-foot ridge of bedrock sit seven historic homes—one built in 1882 that is thought to be the oldest still standing in town, and others dating through 1931.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026
The middle-aged South Asian couple who had been seated across the aisle is standing between her and us.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
