stand up

You move from sitting or lying down to being on your feet.

• Please stand up.
• He stood up and opened the door.
• Can you stand up without help?

Similar words: get up, rise

Opposites: sit down, lie down

Common phrases: stand up slowly, stand up straight, stand up together

You fail to meet someone as agreed, without telling them beforehand.

• She stood me up.
• I waited an hour before realizing I'd been stood up.
• Have you ever stood someone up on a date?

How to use it: stand someone up (He stood me up at the restaurant.)

Similar words: fail to meet

Common phrases: stand someone up, stand up a date

You move an object so that it is upright.

• Stand the bottle up.
• We stood the sofa up on its end.
• Can you stand that board up against the wall?

How to use it: stand something up (Stand the fallen sign up again.)

Similar words: set upright, raise

Opposites: lay down

Common phrases: stand something up, stand up a bottle, stand up a board

An idea, explanation, or claim still seems true when people examine it carefully.

• His story doesn't stand up.
• The evidence stood up in court.
• Will that argument stand up to closer examination?

How to use it: stand up to something (Her explanation stood up to careful examination.); stand up under something (The claim did not stand up under questioning.)

Similar words: hold up, hold water

Common phrases: stand up in court, stand up to scrutiny, stand up under questioning

Something stays strong or useful after a long time or a lot of use.

• These bags stand up well.
• The old chairs have stood up to years of use.
• Will this fabric stand up to daily washing?

How to use it: stand up to something (These boots stand up to heavy use.)

Similar words: last, endure, hold up

Opposites: wear out

Common phrases: stand up well, stand up over time, stand up to wear

You take part in someone's wedding as their best man or another official helper.

• Will you stand up for me at my wedding?
• She stood up with her best friend when she married.
• Both brothers stood up for the groom.

How to use it: stand up for someone at their wedding (She stood up for her sister at the wedding.); stand up with someone (His brother agreed to stand up with him.)

Similar words: serve as an attendant

Common phrases: stand up for someone, stand up at weddings