a substitute for a motion-picture star during the preparation of lighting, cameras, etc., or in dangerous scenes.
any substitute.
to act as a substitute
to be of benefit or advantage to someone
a person or thing that serves as a substitute
( as modifier )
a stand-in teacher
a person who substitutes for an actor during intervals of waiting or in dangerous stunts
First recorded in 1930–35; noun use of verb phrase stand in
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When James Duval, a veteran of six Araki projects, often as the director’s stand-in, arrives on-screen it feels like an applause break for fans to cheer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
But as party president he had been growing into the role of stand-in candidate - even going on a statesman-like visit to Poland last month.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
Though Emilio Gay made a half-century and stand-in captain Joe Root 46, England lost three wickets for 35 runs to slip to 177-5.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
Iliffe-Moon often finds herself in meetings alongside engineers and product managers, acting as a stand-in for the everyday, often cynical consumer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
On the night of the transaction, they leashed a stand-in timber wolf for Black Wing, first dyeing its left hind foot snow white, to look like Black Wing’s.
From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger
“It was like whitewater rapids, like when you’re river rafting. You couldn’t stand in it; it would knock you over.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026
To get attention, I’d stand in front of the TV while they watched.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
After the announcement that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage would quit his Clacton constituency and stand in a by-election, the serial election candidate Count Binface posted online: "Game on, Nige."
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Justices then stand in yes-or-no retention elections every six years.
From Slate ● Jul. 8, 2026
Would they stand in the way and demand papers or something?
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
