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standby

noun

Simple meaning

Waiting at the airport in the hope of getting a seat on a flight that is already booked out.

Pronunciation

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standby

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US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈstændˈbaɪ

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. A replacement kept on standby.

  2. travel

    Waiting at the airport in the hope of getting a seat on a flight that is already booked out.

  3. Something that is standard, well-tested, or frequently used.

  4. A state of readiness without immediate involvement; remaining in preparation for (a sudden or unforeseen event or situation).

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More ways to use standby

  • “Our generator is a useful standby during power outages.”noun

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More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin

Synonyms

Sense: replacement kept on standby

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.