stood

The child stood quietly in line.

Definition

1. Verb (past tense and past participle of stand):

   • To have been in an upright position on one’s feet: "stood" indicates that someone or something was previously in a stationary, vertical posture.

     • She stood at the bus stop for an hour. (She was in a standing position.)
   • To have been located or situated: "stood" can describe the past location or placement of an object.

     • The old tree stood in the middle of the field. (The tree was located there.)
   • To have remained unchanged or valid: "stood" can mean that a condition, rule, or decision continued to exist without alteration.

     • The agreement stood for many years. (The agreement remained in effect.)

2. Adjective (rare, archaic):

   • Fixed or stationary: used in contexts like "stood still" to describe immobility.

     • He stood motionless, waiting. (He was stationary and unmoving.)

Usage Examples

• Verb (past tense):

  • They stood in line for tickets. (They waited upright in a queue.)
  • The monument stood for centuries before it fell. (The monument remained in place for a long time.)
  • I stood my ground during the argument. (I maintained my position firmly.)

• Past participle:

  • She has stood by her promise. (She has remained faithful to her promise.)
  • The house has stood empty for years. (The house has remained unoccupied.)

Advanced Usage

• "stood out": to be noticeable or prominent.

  • Her red dress stood out in the crowd. (Her dress was easily seen among others.)

• "stood for": to represent or symbolize.

  • The flag stood for freedom. (The flag symbolized freedom.)

• "stood up": to rise from a sitting or lying position; also, to fail to keep an appointment.

  • He stood up to greet her. (He rose to his feet.)
  • She was stood up by her date. (Her date did not show up.)

Variants and Related Words

• Stand (verb, present tense):
  • I stand here every morning. (I am in a standing position.)
• Standing (adjective/noun):
  • The standing ovation lasted five minutes. (The audience was upright, applauding.)
• Standpoint (noun): a point of view.
  • From a legal standpoint, the case is weak. (From the perspective of law.)

Synonyms

• Remained: stayed in a particular state or place.
  • He remained calm. (He stayed calm.)
• Perched: sat or rested on something elevated (for objects).
  • The vase perched on the shelf. (The vase was placed on the shelf.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Stood by: to remain loyal or supportive.
  • Her friends stood by her during the crisis. (They supported her.)
• Stood for: to tolerate or allow (usually in negative constructions).
  • I won’t stand for such rudeness. (I will not tolerate it.)
• Stood out: to be clearly visible or exceptional.
  • His talent stood out among the candidates. (His talent was remarkable.)

Related Idioms

• Stood on one’s own two feet: to be independent and self-sufficient.
  • After college, she stood on her own two feet. (She supported herself financially.)
• Stood the test of time: to remain valuable or relevant over a long period.
  • Their friendship stood the test of time. (Their friendship lasted many years.)
• Stood in the way: to obstruct or hinder.
  • His fear stood in the way of success. (His fear prevented success.)