standing meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

standing

adj

/ˈstændɪŋ/

Etymology From Middle English standynge, stondynge, standende, stondinde, standande, stondande, from Old English standende, stondende, from Proto-Germanic *standandz (“standing”), present participle of Proto-Germanic *standaną (“to stand”), equivalent to stand + -ing.

Erect, not cut down.

Performed from an erect position.

standing ovation

Remaining in force or status; ongoing.

standing committee

Stagnant; not moving or flowing.

standing water

Not transitory; not liable to fade or vanish; lasting.

a standing colour

Not movable; fixed.

a standing bed, distinguished from a trundle-bed
the standing rigging of a ship

Antonyms: moving, working
Derived terms: 42 terms
all standing, bystanding, forestanding, freestanding, free-standing, a standing start, fullstanding, hardstanding, last man standing, long-standing, nonstanding, offstanding, outstanding, self-standing, standing army, standing cloud, standing committee, standing crop, standing cup, standing desk, standing eight, standing end, standing ground, standing joke, standingly, standing mile, standing O, standing order, standing ovation, standing part, standing rib, standing rigging, standing room, standing rule, standing seam, standing start, standing stock, standing stone, standing water, standing wave, unstanding, upstanding

standing

noun

Etymology From Middle English standyng, stonding, stondung, from Old English *standung, equivalent to stand + -ing.

7 senses

1Position or reputation in society or a profession.
2Duration.
3The act of a person who stands, or a place where someone stands.
4The position of a team in a league or of a player in a list.
5Room in which to park a vehicle or vehicles
6The right of a party to bring a legal action, based on…
7The location on a street where a market trader…

Figuratively Position or reputation in society or a profession.

He does not have much of a standing as a chemist.
The males constantly test their standing, looking to move up in the hierarchy.2017 March, Jennifer S. Holland, “For These Monkeys, It’s a Fight for Survival”, in National Geographic:

1 more example

The Russian president has given a series of public addresses this week in a bid to repair his public standing, and portray Wagner’s march on Moscow as a moment that unified Russia.2023 June 29, Graham Russell, “Wagner mutiny has weakened Putin, says Scholz, as Russian president makes rare public visit”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

Duration.

a member of long standing

The act of a person who stands, or a place where someone stands.

Tech[elles]. I heare them come, ſhall wee encounter them? Tam[burlaine]. Keep all your ſtandings, and not ſtir a foot, Myſelfe will bide the danger of the brunt.c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:
I sinke in deepe mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deepe waters, where the flouds ouerflow me.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 69:2:

1 more example

I will provide you and your fellows of a good standing to see his entry1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC:

Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports The position of a team in a league or of a player in a list.

After their last win, their standing went up three places.

UK Room in which to park a vehicle or vehicles

"There was no garage at Lathbury Road, but we had standing for two cars in front of the house."1992, P. D. James, The Children of Men, page 28:
"The engineering crisis boiled down to roads, hard standing, and waste."2000, Bob Breen, Mission Accomplished, East Timor, page 149:

Law The right of a party to bring a legal action, based on the relationship between that party and the matter to which the action relates.

to have standing
He may be insulting, a miserable rotter and a fool, but unless he slanders or libels you, or damages your property, you do not have standing to sue him.

2 more examples

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and the NGTF Fund for Human Dignity retained Erie attorney James E. Marsh, Jr. to argue the case. Boston's Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) also sought standing with the court in a memorandum of law prepared by Sandra L. Smales with Stephen Ansolabehere and Gary Buseck.1985 February 2, Micheline Justman, “Erie Will Declared Valid”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 28, page 3:
Legal experts noted earlier this week that while Epps will have to prove that Carlson’s claims damaged his reputation, he presents a strong argument and therefore likely has standing.2023 July 12, Erum Salam, “Fox News faces another defamation lawsuit involving Tucker Carlson”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

UK, Obsolete, Slang The location on a street where a market trader habitually operates.

Derived terms: class standing, hard standing, good standing, social standing, watchstanding
Related terms: cause of action