The verb stand means to be in an upright position on the feet, to rise to one’s feet, or to remain in a specified position. Its past tense and past participle form is stood.
- Base form: stand
- Past tense: stood
- Past participle: stood
- Usage: intransitive or transitive (can have an object or no object)
- Meaning: to be upright; to rise; to remain; to tolerate; to have a position or opinion
Examples
- I stood by the window and watched the rain.
- She stood up when the teacher entered the room.
- We stood in line for two hours.
- He can’t stand loud noises.
- This table stands ten feet tall.
Idioms with stand
- stand by — be ready to help or support
- stand for — represent or mean
- stand out — be noticeable
- stand up to — resist or confront
- stand a chance — have a possibility of success
Stand is an irregular verb. Below are its forms in different tenses.
Base Forms
| Tense | English Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Base form | stand | I stand here every morning. |
| Past tense | stood | She stood in the corner. |
| Past participle | stood | They have stood outside all day. |
| Present participle | standing | We are standing together. |
Simple Tenses
| Tense | English Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple present | stand / stands | I stand by the door. / He stands on one leg. |
| Simple past | stood | We stood in the rain. |
| Simple future | will stand | She will stand on stage. |
Perfect Tenses
| Tense | English Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present perfect | have/has stood | I have stood here for hours. |
| Past perfect | had stood | They had stood in line before dawn. |
| Future perfect | will have stood | By noon, we will have stood outside for three hours. |
Progressive Tenses
| Tense | English Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present progressive | am/is/are standing | I am standing by the window. |
| Past progressive | was/were standing | She was standing when I arrived. |
| Future progressive | will be standing | We will be standing in the lobby. |
Perfect Progressive Tenses
| Tense | English Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present perfect progressive | have/has been standing | I have been standing here all morning. |
| Past perfect progressive | had been standing | They had been standing for an hour before it rained. |
| Future perfect progressive | will have been standing | By then, she will have been standing for two hours. |
Stand (no object)
Means to be in an upright position on the feet.
- I stand every morning while reading the news.
- She stood quietly at the back of the room.
- They will stand near the entrance.
Stand + Object
Means to place someone or something in an upright position, or to rise to one’s feet.
- The teacher stood the students in a line.
- He stood his daughter on the chair.
- Please stand the boxes against the wall.
Stand as "tolerate"
Means to endure or put up with something.
- I can’t stand the noise.
- She doesn’t stand waiting in long lines.
- They won’t stand for rudeness.
Stand as "have a position or opinion"
- I stand by my decision. (I support my decision.)
- What do you stand for? (What do you represent or believe in?)
- He stood against the proposal.
stand by
To support or be ready to help.
- I will stand by you no matter what.
- The firefighters stood by during the storm.
stand for
To represent or mean.
- What does “CEO” stand for?
- He won’t stand for cheating.
stand out
To be noticeable or different.
- She stands out in a crowd.
- His bright shirt made him stand out.
stand up to
To resist or confront.
- The child stood up to the bully.
- We must stand up to injustice.
stand a chance
To have a possibility of success.
- Do you stand a chance of winning?
- They don’t stand a chance against the champions.
What is the past tense of stand?
The past tense is stood.
- I stood in line yesterday.
Can stand take an object?
Yes. You can stand something or someone.
- She stood the baby on his feet.
- Stand the coat on the rack.
Is stand always about being upright?
Mostly, but it can also mean “to tolerate” or “to take a position.”
- I can’t stand waiting.
- He stands for honesty.
Can standing be continuous?
Yes. Use standing for ongoing action.
- I am standing here now.
- They were standing all day.
Stand means to be upright, rise, remain, tolerate, or take a position.
Past tense and past participle: stood.
Example: She stood by the window.
Idioms: stand by, stand for, stand out, stand up to, stand a chance.
Flashcards (1 of 16)
- Tense: Base form
- Example: I stand here every morning.
- English Form: stand
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
