standby

American  

[stand-bahy] / ˈstændˌbaɪ /

Or stand-by

noun

• standbys
  plural

1. a staunch supporter or adherent; one who can be relied upon.

2. something upon which one can rely and therefore choose or use regularly.

3. something or someone held ready to serve as a substitute, especially a radio or television program used as a filler in case of cancellation of a regularly scheduled program.

4. a traveler who is waiting for last-minute accommodations to become available on a plane, train, or other transport as a result of a cancellation.

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adjective

1. kept readily available for use in an emergency, shortage, or the like.

   a standby player.

2. of or relating to last-minute accommodations, the transport that offers them, or a traveler who is waiting for them.

   a standby flight.

3. of or relating to a waiting period.

idioms

1. on standby, in a state of readiness to act, respond, or be used immediately when needed.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• standbys
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of standby

First recorded in 1790–1800; noun, adj. use of verb phrase stand by

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Explanation

A standby is something (or someone) you can rely on in an emergency, like the bicycle you keep as a standby in case your old car won't start. In basketball, the players on the bench are the standbys for their teammates on the court; and in theater, an actor's understudy is her standby. When something is "on standby," it's ready to jump in or be used immediately. And when you fly on standby, you are ready to take an extra seat on a flight if one becomes available. Standby comes from nautical slang for "a vessel kept for emergencies," originally "that which stands by one."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

standby standbys

The health board said colleagues at NHS Tayside remain on standby but both emergency departments are now better placed to support necessary care.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

Fresh flowers, another old standby, endure as a suitable host gift—if you get them from a local florist, not a corner store, and go with seasonal varieties.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

That's enough to cover "always-on" electrical appliances such as fridges and devices left on standby.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

One way to bypass a will and still protect children is to name a standby guardian in a separate document.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

Resist the urge to write contractions with how, when, where, or why, except that old standby where’s.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

For days when even that feels like too much, a few freezer and pantry standbys can save the gathering.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

Rock’s commercial struggles in the streaming era may also be spurring fans of the genre toward old standbys.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026

Since their mainstream emergence in 2022, A.I. apps have been a point of concern for game workers like visual artists, software engineers, and voice-over standbys.

From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2024

An additional juror was sworn in as an alternate, and the process of finding five more standbys will continue on Friday.

From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2024

Two pretty gray homespuns made in Alabama were my standbys.

From Memories A Record of Personal Experience and Adventure During Four Years of War by Fannie A. Beers

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