stand-down

or stand·down

[ stand-doun ]

/ ˈstændˌdaʊn /

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See synonyms for stand-down on Thesaurus.com

noun

Military. a temporary cessation of offensive actions; cease-fire; truce: a stand-down for the Christmas holidays.

a work stoppage or layoff.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of stand-down

First recorded in 1920–25; noun use of verb phrase stand down

Words nearby stand-down

standard time, stand at ease, standaway, standby, stand corrected, stand-down, standee, standfast, standfirst, stand for, stand guard

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use stand-down in a sentence

The safety of American personnel at the American consulate in Libya was undermined by a “stand down order.”
Congress Debunks Congress’s Nuttiest Benghazi Theories|Ben Jacobs|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Central to the Benghazi conspiracy: the alleged stand-down order that kept help from arriving from Tripoli.
Hey, Benghazi-Heads, You Stand Down!|Michael Tomasky|July 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Did the commander in chief ask military assets to stand down?
Why Democrats Are So Scared of Benghazi|Ron Christie|May 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The men were initially going to be deployed to the area, and were then told to “stand down,” they said.
Rescue Efforts Were Delayed Following Deadly Landslide in Washington|Stacey Solie|March 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

What are they doing to achieve an immediate military stand down?
Can the U.S. Stop Civil War in South Sudan?|Josh Rogin|January 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At this very unexpected reply the spectators tittered, and Mr. Sergeant Buzfuz said curtly, "Stand down, sir."
The World's Greatest Books, Vol III|Arthur Mee and J.A. Hammerton, Eds.
Tell me, Jack, will you be apt to get any further lines on the way things stand down here?
Eagles of the Sky|Ambrose Newcomb
But I'd hardly begun when I was ordered to stand down as a liar as well as a thief.
Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, No. 698|Various
A formal verdict having been entered, the judge ordered the prisoner to stand down, postponing sentence.
Oscar Wilde, Volume 1 (of 2)|Frank Harris
"We have done with you; you can stand down," replied Mr. Keir, in mortification and disgust.
The Lost Lady of Lone|E.D.E.N. Southworth

British Dictionary definitions for stand-down

stand down

verb (adverb)

(intr) to resign or withdraw, esp in favour of another

(intr) to leave the witness box in a court of law after giving evidence

mainly British to go or be taken off duty

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with stand-down

stand down

Leave a witness stand, as in The judge told her to stand down. [Late 1600s]

Withdraw, as from a political contest or a game or race, as in Harry decided to stand down as a candidate for mayor. [Late 1800s]

Go off duty, as in The American forces were ordered to stand down. [Early 1900s]