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standing room

American  

noun

  1. space in which to stand, as in a theater, stadium, or the like.

  2. accommodation for standing.

Etymology

Origin of standing room

First recorded in 1595–1605

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.

In a packed Ibrox press room in the bowels of the Bill Struth Main Stand, it was standing room only for the new Rangers head coach's first statement of intent.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2025

It was standing room only in the cage, with no toilet or sink.

From Slate • Oct. 20, 2024

I'm going back there to work a comedy club and I played Nashville and had all five sell-out, standing room only, killer standing ovation shows.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2024

The 20-seat bistro comes with a standing room only bar counter and additional seating in the courtyard.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 24, 2024

The 5:56 fast train to Stoke has been cancelled, so its passengers have invaded my train and it’s standing room only in the carriage.

From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins

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.