Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Ready for immediate use, especially in an emergency or as a substitute: Describes a person or thing kept in a state of readiness to be used if needed.

2. Noun:

   • A person or thing ready to serve as a substitute or backup: Someone or something available to be used if the usual or primary person or thing is unavailable.
   • A state of readiness: The condition of being prepared and waiting to be called into action.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The hospital has a standby power generator in case of a blackout.
  • We have a standby technician on call 24 hours a day.

• Noun:

  • She was the understudy, the standby for the lead actress.
  • Keep this flashlight as a standby in your emergency kit.
  • The flight is full, but we can put you on standby.

Advanced Usage

• "On standby": In a state of readiness, waiting to be called into action.

  • The medical team is on standby for the launch.
  • I'm on standby for the next available flight.

• "As a standby": Serving or available as a backup option.

  • Take an extra battery as a standby.

Variants and Related Words

• Standby ticket/passenger (n): A ticket sold at a reduced rate without a guaranteed seat, or a passenger holding such a ticket.
  • We flew to Paris on standby tickets.
• Standby mode (n): A low-power state for electronic equipment, ready to become fully operational quickly.
  • The computer goes into standby mode after 15 minutes.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Backup, reserve, auxiliary, secondary, emergency.
• Noun: Backup, substitute, replacement, reserve, understudy.

Related Phrases

• "Be on call": To be available to work if needed, especially for emergencies (similar to "be on standby").
• "Have something in reserve": To have something kept back for future use.

Adjective

1. ready for emergency use
   • a standby generator
   • a standby crew

Noun

1. an actor able to replace a regular performer when required
2. something that can be relied on when needed