Phrasal verb
stand up
Meanings
to rise to your feet from a sitting or lying position
to not meet someone as planned; to fail to show up for an arranged meeting
to defend or support someone or something, especially when there is pressure or criticism
Definition
To stand up means to rise to your feet from sitting or lying down.
To stand up means to move from sitting or lying to an upright position on your feet. It can also mean to fail to meet someone as promised, or to support someone or something when it is being criticized or challenged. The meaning is usually clear from the context.
Examples
- I stood up when the judge entered the room.
- You stood up too quickly and bumped your head on the cabinet.
- He stood her up outside the cinema, and she went home annoyed.
- They stood up for their teammate when others blamed him unfairly.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse “stand up” (rise to your feet) with “stand up for” (defend someone) and leave out the needed preposition.
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.