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

Fans started lining up outside Lincoln Center at 3 a.m. a couple of weeks ago for a chance to score standby tickets for the movie’s New York Film Festival premiere.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026

The centre, according to the documents, would include five gas turbines, a steam generator, and another two gas turbines on standby.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

The US Department of Homeland Security said Saturday it was on standby to send emergency management officials to assist states, if needed.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

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

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

If I want Thai, I’d probably do Toi on Sunset, which is one of my old standbys.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 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

It’s lighter than some Italian-American standbys, but no less satisfying — the flavor comes forward with every twist of the fork, sharp and indulgent in equal measure, a little citrus perfume in every mouthful.

From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2025

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

Two of the captain's standbys have been advertised to the world.

From Roughing it De Luxe by John T. McCutcheon

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