Stand by
/stænd/B1
Intermediate
1. To be ready and available to act.
- Please stand by for further instructions after the meeting.
- The firefighters stood by, ready to assist when the alarm sounded.
2. To support or remain loyal to someone.
- I promised to stand by her during the difficult times.
- He stood by his friend even when everyone else abandoned him.
3. To wait for something to happen or be ready for use.
- The software update requires you to stand by while changes are being applied.
- When broadcasting live, TV crews often stand by for any breaking news.
Synonyms:
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