stand over
Britishverb
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(intr, preposition) to watch closely; keep tight control over
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(adverb) to postpone or be postponed
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informal (intr, preposition) to threaten or intimidate (a person)
noun
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Watch or supervise closely, as in I hate to cook when you're standing over me . [First half of 1300s]
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Postpone, as in We'll have to let this budget item stand over till next year . [Early 1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Casey Higgins sparred on the witness stand over what information the consulting firm provided to the councilman’s office about possible conflicts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2026
A concrete UN sign that used to stand over the camp's now impassable main entrance has been knocked down.
From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2025
Lawyer Keith Davidson concluded his testimony Thursday after spending nearly 6 1/2 hours on the stand over two days.
From Seattle Times ● May 3, 2024
Jay Batongbacal, director of the Manila-based Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said the joint patrol with the United States showed the Manila was making a stand over the South China Sea.
From Reuters ● Nov. 21, 2023
Other children come and stand over them and marvel, then gradually lose interest and conclude it is hopeless.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
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.
