Standby
noun
Someone or something that is ready to be used immediately when needed.
We have a generator on standby in case the power goes out.
Often appears as...
- on standby
- standby power
adjective
Used to describe something that is ready to be used immediately when needed.
The hospital has standby generators in case of a power failure.
Often appears as...
- standby equipment
- standby generator
noun
A ticket for a flight that is only used if there is room available at the last minute.
I bought a standby ticket for the weekend flight just in case.
Often appears as...
- standby ticket
- standby list
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
A state of readiness without immediate involvement; remaining in preparation for a task.
The soldiers were on standby waiting for orders.
Often appears as...
- on standby
- soldiers on standby
noun
Someone or something that is ready to be used immediately when needed.
We have a generator on standby in case the power goes out.
Often appears as...
- on standby
- standby power
adjective
Used to describe something that is ready to be used immediately when needed.
The hospital has standby generators in case of a power failure.
Often appears as...
- standby equipment
- standby generator
noun
A ticket for a flight that is only used if there is room available at the last minute.
I bought a standby ticket for the weekend flight just in case.
Often appears as...
- standby ticket
- standby list
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
A state of readiness without immediate involvement; remaining in preparation for a task.
The soldiers were on standby waiting for orders.
Often appears as...
- on standby
- soldiers on standby
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Emergency Preparedness
Refers to items or people ready for quick deployment in crisis situations.
The emergency services team is on standby during the hurricane season.
Pro Tip 2/2Always Available
Standby denotes something constantly ready to be accessed or activated.
Our technical support team is on standby 24/7 to help with any issues.
Pro Tip 1/2Emergency Preparedness
Refers to items or people ready for quick deployment in crisis situations.
The emergency services team is on standby during the hurricane season.
Pro Tip 2/2Always Available
Standby denotes something constantly ready to be accessed or activated.
Our technical support team is on standby 24/7 to help with any issues.
Pro Tip 1/2Emergency Preparedness
Refers to items or people ready for quick deployment in crisis situations.
The emergency services team is on standby during the hurricane season.
Pro Tip 2/2Always Available
Standby denotes something constantly ready to be accessed or activated.
Our technical support team is on standby 24/7 to help with any issues.
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Video examples
Erika Cheung: Theranos,...
and they put it in this device, and it pops out a result, what's really happening is the moment you step outside of the room, they take that blood sample, they run it to a back door, and there are five people on standby that are taking this tiny blood sample and splitting it amongst five different machines."
Video examples
Ghosts: Is It Real? PIPE...
believers ghosts are as real as the living and ghostly apparitions come in several flavors first there's the old standby ghosts are dead people dead people who had something like a transporter malfunction beaming from the here and now to the
Video examples
How I named, shamed and...
So I built a prosthetic baby, and I went into the village, pretended as though this baby had been born with a deformity, and here was the guys who do the killing. They got themselves ready. In their bids to kill, I got the police on standby,
Video examples
A Dangerous Night In...
National Guardsmen. They are on standby prepared to move. Transport has been arranged. And it is our purpose here at the state government level to restore law and order and to minimize the danger to the residents of the area.
Video examples
Target Shooting PIPE Let it...
is all luck right here beginner's luck or nothing hey the range is going on at this point everybody needs to eye protection and ear protection mark there's no pressure no pressure huh shooter ready you all ready standby Oh
Video examples
Jimmy Wales: How a...
to ask a question or something, anything about the servers. You could never afford to do this in a company. You could never afford to have a standby crew of people 24 hours a day and do what we're doing at Wikipedia.
Video examples
LA92 Panel - Live PIPE...
Guardsmen they are on standby prepared to move transport has been arranged and it is our purpose here at the state government level to restore law and order and to minimize the danger to the
Video examples
Amazing Dogs Smell Human...
standby when he's off running around doing his doggie thing he does still alert me he'll come back and sniff me and sometimes he decides that I'm fine and other times he'll come back and
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 146 PIPE...
there are how many stations on standby for this evoke a male sighting I'm just trying to find out how many on standby
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 133 PIPE...
complex please no tapes number one okay so we are faced standby so we'll just slow me enjoy we're in that direction
Video examples
Erika Cheung: Theranos,...
and they put it in this device, and it pops out a result, what's really happening is the moment you step outside of the room, they take that blood sample, they run it to a back door, and there are five people on standby that are taking this tiny blood sample and splitting it amongst five different machines."
Video examples
Ghosts: Is It Real? PIPE...
believers ghosts are as real as the living and ghostly apparitions come in several flavors first there's the old standby ghosts are dead people dead people who had something like a transporter malfunction beaming from the here and now to the
Video examples
How I named, shamed and...
So I built a prosthetic baby, and I went into the village, pretended as though this baby had been born with a deformity, and here was the guys who do the killing. They got themselves ready. In their bids to kill, I got the police on standby,
Video examples
A Dangerous Night In...
National Guardsmen. They are on standby prepared to move. Transport has been arranged. And it is our purpose here at the state government level to restore law and order and to minimize the danger to the residents of the area.
Video examples
Target Shooting PIPE Let it...
is all luck right here beginner's luck or nothing hey the range is going on at this point everybody needs to eye protection and ear protection mark there's no pressure no pressure huh shooter ready you all ready standby Oh
Video examples
Jimmy Wales: How a...
to ask a question or something, anything about the servers. You could never afford to do this in a company. You could never afford to have a standby crew of people 24 hours a day and do what we're doing at Wikipedia.
Video examples
LA92 Panel - Live PIPE...
Guardsmen they are on standby prepared to move transport has been arranged and it is our purpose here at the state government level to restore law and order and to minimize the danger to the
Video examples
Amazing Dogs Smell Human...
standby when he's off running around doing his doggie thing he does still alert me he'll come back and sniff me and sometimes he decides that I'm fine and other times he'll come back and
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 146 PIPE...
there are how many stations on standby for this evoke a male sighting I'm just trying to find out how many on standby
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 133 PIPE...
complex please no tapes number one okay so we are faced standby so we'll just slow me enjoy we're in that direction
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Sasha Cohen
American Athlete
No matter where I am, especially when I'm on tour around the country, Caesar salad is my standby. In a random city and eating in random to-go restaurants, you're kind of scared about trying things, but you can always count on a Caesar salad.
Quote examples
Mary Berry
British Chef
As parents are usually working, they haven't time to teach children about cooking, and it's a wilderness. They should be given healthy recipes - some standbys so that when they leave home, they don't live on junk.
Quote examples
Barbi Benton
American Model
There are some things I like that Hef likes, too. For example, Colonel Sanders' chicken is a standby. I've never been able to figure out how to recreate the combination of herbs they use to flavor the crust.
Quote examples
Martina McBride
American Musician
At the beginning of every week, I like to sit down and figure out what I'm going to make. I probably try at least two new recipes a week. But I have my standbys - jambalaya, meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
Quote examples
Matt Gonzalez
American Politician
At some point the rhetoric runs out, and we have to ask ourselves, 'Are we simply going to standby while somebody's rhetoric is good, but their actions are so lousy?' Are we going to stand up for that?
Quote examples
Ginny Brown-Waite
American Politician
Part of the redesign of FEMA is that they have so many people on standby, whether it is a retired nurse or a doctor who will take time off to go exactly where they are needed.
Quote examples
Gloria Steinem
American Activist
Secretary of state is far superior to vice president, because it's involved in continuously solving problems and making policy and not being on standby.
Quote examples
Jerry Seinfeld
American Comedian
The worst way of flying, I think, is standby. It never works. That's why they call it standby. You end up standing there going, 'Bye!
Quote examples
Niecy Nash
American Comedian
I have an extra set of eyelashes because you never know. I could cry or laugh, or it could be windy, and I'll need a standby pair.
Quote examples
Gyles Brandreth
British Actor
For centuries in Britain, the small-talk standby has been the weather.
Quote examples
Sasha Cohen
American Athlete
No matter where I am, especially when I'm on tour around the country, Caesar salad is my standby. In a random city and eating in random to-go restaurants, you're kind of scared about trying things, but you can always count on a Caesar salad.
Quote examples
Mary Berry
British Chef
As parents are usually working, they haven't time to teach children about cooking, and it's a wilderness. They should be given healthy recipes - some standbys so that when they leave home, they don't live on junk.
Quote examples
Barbi Benton
American Model
There are some things I like that Hef likes, too. For example, Colonel Sanders' chicken is a standby. I've never been able to figure out how to recreate the combination of herbs they use to flavor the crust.
Quote examples
Martina McBride
American Musician
At the beginning of every week, I like to sit down and figure out what I'm going to make. I probably try at least two new recipes a week. But I have my standbys - jambalaya, meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
Quote examples
Matt Gonzalez
American Politician
At some point the rhetoric runs out, and we have to ask ourselves, 'Are we simply going to standby while somebody's rhetoric is good, but their actions are so lousy?' Are we going to stand up for that?
Quote examples
Ginny Brown-Waite
American Politician
Part of the redesign of FEMA is that they have so many people on standby, whether it is a retired nurse or a doctor who will take time off to go exactly where they are needed.
Quote examples
Gloria Steinem
American Activist
Secretary of state is far superior to vice president, because it's involved in continuously solving problems and making policy and not being on standby.
Quote examples
Jerry Seinfeld
American Comedian
The worst way of flying, I think, is standby. It never works. That's why they call it standby. You end up standing there going, 'Bye!
Quote examples
Niecy Nash
American Comedian
I have an extra set of eyelashes because you never know. I could cry or laugh, or it could be windy, and I'll need a standby pair.
Quote examples
Gyles Brandreth
British Actor
For centuries in Britain, the small-talk standby has been the weather.
Example 1 of 10
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