standing1 adjectivestanding2 noun
standingstand‧ing1 /ˈstændɪŋ/ adjective [only before noun] 
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He pulled himself up very slowly to a standing position.
- And by now, every point won by Forget received a wild, standing ovation.
- Everyone will, as per standing Union agreements, receive outplacement counselling, redundancy payments.
- There were more standing ovations than I've ever heard.
- With a standing order you tell your branch exactly how much is to be paid and when.
Longman Language Activatorvery much better than someone or something
informal to be clearly doing very much better at something than someone else: · Winger's stands head and shoulders above every other restaurant in town.· Kander and Ebb are head and shoulders above the others writing for the musical theater these days.
spoken use this to emphasize that one person or thing is clearly much better than someone or something else: · "Which apartment do you prefer?'' "Well, there's no comparison. The first one we saw is bigger, quieter, and has much nicer furniture.''
British to be so much better than others that their achievements are made to seem ordinary: · Coca Cola's prize-winning advertising campaign has put all others in the shade.· The generous response of the public to the disaster puts the government's contribution somewhat in the shade.
written to be so much better than someone or something else that they are made to seem unimportant and not worth paying any attention to: · Channel 5's tremendous line-up of TV programmes has eclipsed its competitors' best efforts.· Eclipsed by the US champion at last year's Olympic Games, Schofield has decided to retire.
if someone is in a different league , they are so much better and more skilful than someone who does similar work that it would be stupid even to compare them: · You can't possibly compare Thomas Hardy and Wilkie Collins - Hardy is in a different league.
to be so much better than someone else that they feel slightly embarrassed by their own lack of skill or quality: · The elegant way she was dressed put the rest of us to shame.· Acapulco is a cosmopolitan city with a nightlife that puts Rio to shame.
informal to perform with much greater skill than someone else in a competitive activity such as a sport or an argument: run rings around somebody: · It's no use arguing with Sophie -- she can run rings around anyone who disagrees with her.· Tottenham Hotspur are running rings around Arsenal in the most exciting cup final in years.
British informal to be very much better than something of the same type or than someone you are competing with: be streets ahead of: · The script is original and funny, streets ahead of any other situation comedy.· We don't need to worry about this year's sales figures -- they're streets ahead of the competition.
British to be so much better at something than other people that they cannot possibly compete successfully with you: · It seems that in this campaign the Labour candidate has left the opposition standing.· Julie's an excellent typist -- her speed and accuracy leave the rest of us standing.
to clap to hit your hands together loudly and quickly to show that you approve of and are pleased with a play, someone's performance, someone's actions etc: · The audience cheered and clapped as the curtain came down.· Fans usually clap the batsman when he leaves the field.clap your hands: · A crowd gathered to watch the runners, clapping their hands and urging them on.
if people applaud , they clap excitedly, and often for a long time, in order to show how much they liked something or to show their support for someone: · The crowd applauded when Evans promised to cut taxes.· A group of supporters applauded the strikers as they were led into court.
to give a loud, happy shout expressing admiration, approval, and often excitement, for example at a sports event or after a speech: · The audience were now on their feet, cheering wildly.· Thousands of people lined Broadway to cheer the Yankees and celebrate their World Series triumph.
the sound of a crowd of people clapping and cheering someone, to show their approval and admiration: · There was loud applause when the band members ran onto the stage.a round of applause (=a short period of applause): · The candidate's promise to improve public schools was greeted with a loud round of applause.applause dies down (=gradually stops): · The conductor waited for the applause to die down before signalling for the orchestra to begin.
if someone receives a standing ovation at the end of a performance or speech, the people who are watching or listening to them stand up, clap, and cheer, to show their approval and admiration: · Miller got a standing ovation when he entered the game.give somebody/something a standing ovation: · The speech was given a standing ovation.
to move faster than someone or something else to pass another vehicle on the road and move in front of it because you are going faster: · I turned around and saw that, out of the dust and the crowd, another car was pulling ahead to join us.pull ahead of: · With the finish line in sight, Wallace pulled ahead of the pack and drove to victory.
to move far in front of someone who cannot run, walk, drive etc as fast as you: · We were all running to catch the bus, but the others had longer legs and gradually left me behind.leave somebody way behind (=a long way behind): · Dinah urged her horse on until she had left all the other riders way behind.
informal to move very far in front of someone, especially in a race, because you are much faster than them: · Collins accelerated around the final turn and left the other runners standing.
to remain something or someone that is left is still there after everything or everyone else has gone or has been used: · Jones scored with only two minutes left in the fourth quarter.· Is there any milk left?· By 5 o'clock there was no one left in the office.have something left: · How much time do we have left to finish this?the only one/person/thing etc left: · If Tracey leaves, I'll be the only girl left in the class.
something that is left over , especially money or food, is still there after you have used everything that you need: · I pay all the bills and save any money that is left over.be left over from: · Was there any food left over from the party?· Toy bears left over from an ad campaign will be donated to the children's hospital.
formal if something remains , it still exists or is still available after everything else has gone, been used, or been dealt with: · We have dealt with most things, but a few small problems remain.· Some elements of the old class system still remain.remain of: · Not much remained of the house after the fire.remain to be done: · A few problems remain to be discussed.
to remain in existence even after a very long time has passed or after something dangerous has happened: · Many Roman roads still survive today.· The English language contains many Saxon words that have survived for over 1000 years.· Very few government buildings survived the bombing in Hanoi.
if something such as a building or tree is still standing or is left standing after a fire, explosion, or a very long time, it is left after many others have gone or been destroyed: · After the earthquake only a few houses were still standing.· Many of the trees Mrs. Socci planted are still standing, a hundred years later.· A stone chimney was the only thing left standing.· The old barracks are still standing on the north side of the island.
if you have something such as money, time, or material to spare , there is some left after you have used as much as you need: · If you have time to spare, consider volunteering at your local school.with something to spare: · We arrived at the station with only a few seconds to spare before the train left.· Russia is large enough that you could fit the United States inside it with room to spare.
if you still have four miles, six hours, two years etc to go , you have that distance or length of time left before a journey or period of time is over: · Only another mile to go!· We've got another couple of hours to go before finishing.with something to go: · Evans scored with only two minutes to go in the game.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
You have to pay standing charges whether or not you use the service. A standing committee was established to coordinate the army and navy. The runners set off from a standing start. There was Paolo, standing in the doorway. The four men were standing in a line on the other side of the table. a long-standing member of the committee a long-standing feud between the two families the long-standing problem of keeping costs down The Chancellor’s entrance was greeted with a standing ovation (=everyone stood up). There was standing room only (=no seats were left) in the courthouse.
You have to pay standing charges whether or not you use the service. (=permission to visit someone whenever you like)
(=a professional permanent army)
A standing committee was established to coordinate the army and navy. The runners set off from a standing start. (=when people stand up to clap after a performance)
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=permanent and existing whether there is a war or not)· The regular army has about 5,000 troops.
(=a permanent one)
There was Paolo, standing in the doorway. (=one that has existed for a long time)· There is a long-standing friendship between the two countries.
· He said they should celebrate their achievements, not nurse old grudges.
(=an invitation to do something at any time you like)· Phillip kindly gave me an open invitation to stay at his villa in Tuscany.
(=an invitation which someone has had for a long time)· He had accepted a long-standing invitation to address the conference.
The four men were standing in a line on the other side of the table. a long-standing member of the committee a long-standing feud between the two families the long-standing problem of keeping costs down The Chancellor’s entrance was greeted with a standing ovation (=everyone stood up). (=how popular a poll shows them to be)· The president's standing in the polls declined sharply.
· The priest rose from his kneeling position by the bed.
There was standing room only (=no seats were left) in the courthouse. (=a long tradition)· In time-honoured tradition, they have a drink in every pub along the high street.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Budgeting Loans are repayable and are not available to help towards mains fuel consumption and standing charges.· South West Water, for instance, has the highest standing charges in the country.· Will he take steps to abolish standing charges or is he the Scrooge of the 1990s?· According to market researcher Datamonitor, 3 million people cut up their credit cards in 1991 when standing charges were introduced.· For consumers who use 1,000 units or less a new tariff is introduced, with no standing charge.· A new tariff for low electricity users will also be introduced which has no standing charge.
· In the same period the power of standing committee chairmen was further eroded by the institutionalization and proliferation of sub-committees.· It consisted of 148 standing committees and 313 adhoc committees.· Committees are of two kinds, standing committees and all other committees.· It then enters the committee stage, when standing committees within the House scrutinize the bill.· It will contain details of the work of the standing committees of the Bar Council together with other financial and statistical data.
· And by now, every point won by Forget received a wild, standing ovation.· Administrator Michael Barnes was given a standing ovation after addressing the audience.· There were more standing ovations than I've ever heard.· A blonde Tory had stripped and received a standing ovation from a minority of her audience.· The delegates accorded Ciaran Ryan a standing ovation.....· After the concert she had to wait for four minutes before McCartney could rejoin her ... while he accepted a standing ovation.· As he fell, a smoking black handprint on his chest, he heard the standing ovation building.· In the end, Linfield left the pitch to a standing ovation from the Windsor faithful.
· Once a standing position has been attained, the face above will come as a blessed relief!· Or try working in a standing position.· When they had left the cinema, they found it had been raining so Yanto decided the standing position would be favourite.· Assume a kneeling position and then put one foot in front of the other to come back into a standing position.· In the water, she rolls into a standing position, still in the star shape, and opens her legs wide.· With this foot and all the solidity and strength of her right leg she levered herself into a standing position.
· In fact, it's standing room only even for fish fingers.· The last time I travelled on it there was standing room only.· In addition there was standing room for 1,000.· Unlike the human case, however, there seem to be no limiting factors such as food supply or standing room.
· The standing stone rose white in the darkness.· There are also churches built on pagan sites which have standing stones in the churchyard.· From here she could see to the house, the standing stone between like a lightning.· Each standing stone collects the raw power and channels it to its inward neighbour.· There's speculation about the connections between the standing stones and the mounds in the area.· Hollowed out mid-way was a small chamber which contained seven standing stones, now clamped to the walls with metal hoops.· The earliest settlers left behind them a remarkable array of monuments: standing stones, burial chambers, villages and brochs.· She walked back over to the standing stones and leant her forehead against one of them.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- A bad mistake, as this became a standing joke for the rest of the week.
- He'd been so much taller than her for such a long time that it had become a standing joke.
- It became a standing joke that we would eventually work together, and then one day it became serious.
- It had been a standing joke.
- It is a standing joke between them, he hopes, how sophisticated their boy is.
- It was something of a standing joke that she lived up to her Libran indecisiveness.
WORD FAMILYadjectivestandingoutstandingupstandingnounstandstandingverbstandadverboutstandingly
1permanently agreed or arranged: You have to pay standing charges whether or not you use the service.standing invitation (=permission to visit someone whenever you like)a standing army (=a professional permanent army) A standing committee was established to coordinate the army and navy.2done from a standing position: The runners set off from a standing start.standing ovation (=when people stand up to clap after a performance)3standing joke something that happens often and that people make jokes about: The whole incident became a standing joke between us.standing1 adjectivestanding2 noun
standingstanding2 noun [uncountable] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a man of standing and wealth
- Graduates from certain colleges have a lower standing in the eyes of employers.
- Jacques Tati was a man of international standing in the world of screen comedy.
- Japan wants a U.N. Security Council seat, to match the country's international standing.
- Stefano's standing as an artist has improved over the past few years.
- TBS has maintained its standing among the top four cable stations.
- The class system in Great Britain encourages people to be very aware of their social standing.
- This legal case is very likely to damage the company's professional standing.
- You don't have to jeopardize your standing in the staffroom.
THESAURUS
noun [countable] the opinion that people have about a person, organization etc because of what has happened in the past: · She was a good lawyer with a reputation for honesty and diligence.· The school had an excellent reputation.· The lawsuit has damaged the company’s reputation.
noun [countable] the idea that people have about what something is like, especially when this is created through newspaper stories, advertising etc: · A PR campaign was launched in an effort to improve the company’s image.· Boxing has rather a negative image.· The princess tried to project an image of herself as serious and hard-working (=she tried to give people the idea that she was serious and hard-working).
noun [singular] the reputation that a person, organization etc has – used especially in the following phrases: · The company is anxious to protect its good name.· Cyclists who ignore traffic rules give other cyclists a bad name.· Electrolux has a name for making top quality vacuum cleaners.· He went to court in order to try to clear his name (=prove that he is innocent).
noun [uncountable] someone’s reputation and position compared to other people in a group or society, based on other people’s opinion of them: · The class system in Great Britain encourages people to be very aware of their social standing.· He needs to improve his standing among female voters.· Jacques Tati was a man of international standing in the world of screen comedy.
noun [uncountable] the good reputation that a company, organization, group etc has, which makes people respect and admire them: · the prestige of a carmaker such as Rolls-Royce· Does Stanford University carry the same prestige as Harvard or Yale?· Hosting the Olympic Games would enhance our country’s international prestige.· The teaching profession has lost the prestige it had in the past.
noun [uncountable] formal the importance and respect that a person or organization has, because of their achievements or their influence: · As he got older, Picasso’s stature as an artist increased.· Their work is equal in stature.· an actor of international stature· The party’s stature has increased in recent years.
Longman Language Activatoryour position or rank in an organization, company etc your job in an organization, company, or profession - use this to talk about how important someone is and how much responsibility they have: · Her position in the company means that she is responsible for major financial decisions.· He eventually became Lord Chancellor, the most powerful position in the British legal system.hold a position (=have a position): · Thorn holds one of the most senior positions in the Federal Bank.
all the jobs in an organization that are similar in importance and that pay similar amounts of money: · The company provides training for staff at all levels.· There are not many part-time workers in the middle and higher levels of management.
someone's position in an organization such as the army or police force: · Gang members wear clothes or decorations that show the member's rank.rank of: · He joined the Los Angeles police department and was eventually promoted to the rank of lieutenant.· Four of the boys in Boy Scout Troop 611 reached the rank of Eagle Scout.hold a rank (=have a rank): · The position of Secretary of State holds Cabinet rank.
someone's position within an organization or within society, based on how important they are considered to be: · The tribe buried their dead with ornaments or tools that showed the dead person's status.low/high status: · In the Middle Ages, priests and other religious figures had a very high status.gain/lose status: · She gained celebrity status with her publication of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking."
someone's position within society or a particular area of activity, based on the respect and admiration that other people have for them: · Stefano's standing as an artist has improved over the past few years.· Graduates from certain colleges have a lower standing in the eyes of employers.· a man of standing and wealth
a system in which people have different positions in an organization, society etc, based on their level of importance: · Genotti was thought to be number two in the Sicilian Mafia hierarchy.· The school district reorganized the administrative hierarchy, which helped to save money.
the opinion that people have about a person, organization etc the general opinion that people have about a person, organization etc based on what they have heard, read, seen, or experienced: reputation as: · Despite her reputation as a trouble-maker, she was promoted to department manager.reputation for: · a brilliant director with a reputation for thoroughnessexcellent/good/bad etc reputation: · I am surprised that a company with your good reputation would produce such poor quality goods.· She found his terrible reputation one of his greatest attractions.have a good/bad etc reputation: · The school had an excellent academic reputation.· The area has a really bad reputation but it isn't as bad as people think.win/earn/gain a reputation as something: · The town's Dolphin Centre had gained a reputation as one of the best leisure complexes in the country.have a reputation of/for being: · The mill has the reputation of being one of the most energy-efficient in the world.live up to your reputation (=be as good, bad etc as people say): · The restaurant certainly lived up to its reputation; the food was delicious.
the idea that people have about a well-known person, company, or product - use this especially about an idea that is deliberately created through newspaper stories, advertising etc: image as: · Perth is proud of its image as a breeding ground for "don't-take-no-for-an-answer" entrepreneurs. be bad/good for somebody's image: · The President's advisers said it would be bad for his image to be photographed with union leaders.improve your image: · The party is seeking to improve its image with female voters.project an image (=make an image): · The princess tried to project an image of herself as serious and hardworking.
the reputation a person or an organization has because of something they do or because of the quality of what they produce, usually when this is good: good/bad name: · He's a determined man and he values his good name.have a name for doing something: · This man has a name for making tough business deals.get a good/bad name: · Teenagers tend to get a bad name for being moody.make a name for yourself (=become known and admired by many people): · Marks and Spencer have made a name for themselves as a producer of high quality goods at reasonable prices.
someone's reputation and position in a group or society, based on other peoples' opinion of them: social/moral/professional etc standing: · The class system in Great Britain encourages people to be very aware of their social standing.· This legal case is very likely to damage the company's professional standing.national/international etc standing: · Jacques Tati was a man of international standing in the world of screen comedy.
the respect and good reputation a person, organization, profession etc has because they have a high position in society, are admired by people etc: · The teaching profession has lost the prestige it had in former times.· Hosting the Olympic Games would add to our country's international prestige.· Becoming a film star confers status, power, prestige and wealth.
a reputation for being very good at something, very important, or very influential that makes people respect you: · At that time there were no other universities in England equal in stature to Oxford and Cambridge.stature as: · As he got older, Picasso's stature as an artist increased.of world/international etc stature: · a British architect of international stature
formal someone's reputation, especially whether or not other people think they are honest or morally good: · A person's character is very important to me when I decide who I want to work with.be of (good/bad) etc character: · Her husband was a man of good character, well-liked and respected by his colleagues.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a lawyer of high standingCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES There was Paolo, standing in the doorway. The four men were standing in a line on the other side of the table. a long-standing member of the committee a long-standing feud between the two families the long-standing problem of keeping costs down The Chancellor’s entrance was greeted with a standing ovation (=everyone stood up). There was standing room only (=no seats were left) in the courthouse.
a lawyer of high standing (=permanent and existing whether there is a war or not)· The regular army has about 5,000 troops.
(=a permanent one)
There was Paolo, standing in the doorway. (=one that has existed for a long time)· There is a long-standing friendship between the two countries.
· He said they should celebrate their achievements, not nurse old grudges.
(=an invitation to do something at any time you like)· Phillip kindly gave me an open invitation to stay at his villa in Tuscany.
(=an invitation which someone has had for a long time)· He had accepted a long-standing invitation to address the conference.
The four men were standing in a line on the other side of the table. a long-standing member of the committee a long-standing feud between the two families the long-standing problem of keeping costs down The Chancellor’s entrance was greeted with a standing ovation (=everyone stood up). (=how popular a poll shows them to be)· The president's standing in the polls declined sharply.
· The priest rose from his kneeling position by the bed.
There was standing room only (=no seats were left) in the courthouse. (=a long tradition)· In time-honoured tradition, they have a drink in every pub along the high street.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Promissory notes and bills of exchange are often guaranteed or endorsed by a third party of financial standing.· Clearly the financial standing of the drawer and drawee are important in determining the rate of discount.· Reports on the financial standing and integrity of individuals and businesses abroad and suggested credit limits.
· The modules can be offered as free standing courses, or linked together or with other modules in integrated programmes.· Inner: once erected the inner is a free standing unit.· Ornament taken: Thieves stole a £70 free standing stone ornament from a garden at a house in Brompton Road, Northallerton.· Potterton free standing gas central heating boiler.· Inner: spacious inner with a good amount of height which makes a free standing dome before the fly is fitted.· Case study. Free standing units offer valuable review and new language in highly professional settings.· Union Carbide is to spin off its industrial gases business to form a free standing company.· Beds on cruise ships may either be free standing or bunk beds. g. Will there be self service at mealtimes?
· Again the same point emerges: high social standing and systematic training did not mix.· The parson's high social standing in the community remained until recent times.· The annual conference is held in September on a particular theme, and attracts participants of high international standing.· And it looks like maintaining its high standing for years to come.· All of us there were so stunned that a man of such high standing in the golf world could be so uncaring.· Mathematics journals had the highest standing internationally, with nearly a third of contributions coming from abroad.· It is also possible for research students to transfer from one degree to another research degree of a higher standing.· The latter must have adequate experience of such lending techniques and high standing in the international banking community.
· The annual conference is held in September on a particular theme, and attracts participants of high international standing.· He had indeed returned the nation to a semblance of domestic normality and international standing.· An enfeebled Lloyd's would harm the City of London's international standing.
· There had been half a dozen bottles of red wine left standing in a corner of the huge kitchen hearth.· An inefficient lift pump can often take several revolutions of the engine if hot and left standing for a short time.· It must be because they are historic that they have been left standing.· I stayed in the one house left standing, a guest house in a ghost town of cracked jambs and gaping doorways.· Sister came out and took charge, and Juliet was left standing outside, wondering who she could ask.· I was just left standing on the street corner, microphone in hand.· Passengers were left standing on the pavement at 8.30 am while police led him away.· By now the only part of Mr. Rainsford's brewery left standing was the taproom kept for luck like an old horseshoe.
· Indeed, perhaps inimical to ours, in view of the hostility of such long standing between man and rat.· The institution of bishops he defends as convenient and of long standing, rather than as based on Apostolic succession.· This act brought to a head problems of long standing whose roots were to be found in two factors.· Social institutions of long standing sustain their own value systems.· Robert Bouchère is another of her friends of long standing.· First, respondents are asked if they have any long standing illness, disability or infirmity.· This is referred to as long standing limiting illness.· Autnomic neuropathy is a frequent complication of long standing diabetes mellitus.
· Again the same point emerges: high social standing and systematic training did not mix.· In many similar households, sons of some social prestige and standing were at least nominally subject to their fathers' authority.· Generally the social standing of female Guardians was higher than male Guardians.· The parson's high social standing in the community remained until recent times.· In practice, however, issues such as the colour and social standing of the victim will also play a major part.· In return Hubert gave her security, pleasant surroundings, a degree of social standing and, of course, the twins.· The other system stressed that alliances could be maintained by remarriage and could be used to improve social standing.· The social standing enjoyed by doctors is of course formidably high.
· He could see a woman holding a young baby standing at the end of the hall.· There was a young man standing in the porch and looking around him.· A little way along there was a young man standing between two stalls with a tray suspended by a strap around his neck.· Gaveston looked at the young page boy standing near him, a goblet of wine in his small white hands.
NOUN· Armed forces: No standing army since 1868; citizens under 60 liable to military service in emergency.· With over a third of the standing army enrolled in the colonies, the situation became dangerous and Nicholas phased them out.· Of about forty tracts on the standing army issue, only one was written by an identifiable Tory.· In the first place, the creation of a regular standing army marked a qualitative change in the authority of the monarchy.· Success depended upon discovering ways to supply the standing army.· With no standing army the Crown did not require any equivalent military body.· The case for following the Western example of reducing the costly standing army by building a reserve of trained men became incontrovertible.
· Elections happen every year, yes, but it's always the standing committee that gets elected.· A standing committee was set up to co-ordinate the international relief effort.· Operating as a standing committee of Council, its membership comprises: Two members nominated from each of the 22 district societies.· Yao Yilin and Song Ping, both hardline conservatives, were removed from the standing committee.· The majority of members serving on the Association's various standing committees are elected from the representatives on the council.· Hu had served on the politburo standing committee and secretariat.· A detailed clause by clause analysis of the Bill by a standing committee of between 1-50 M.P.s.
· Just outside the cage, there seemed to be a figure standing and watching them.· Only as the car approached them did Ludens think he glimpsed a figure standing in the shade under a tree.· But there was a figure standing there.· Jessamy opened her eyes, then swiftly closed them again as she saw his tall figure standing there.· A solitary figure standing there in a trench coat under one of the street lamps?· Her eyes lifted from the books before her on the desk to the tall, powerful figure standing just a few feet away.· There was a figure standing in the corner by an open window.
· I looked in the same direction and saw a group of men standing and staring at us.· We had observed a uniformed man standing there, on the inside.· There was a young man standing in the porch and looking around him.· Had Charles Sunderby imagined it, or had he really seen the figure of a man standing frozen at the wheel?· The man standing before her had earlier been on his knees on the opposite side from the woman.· A movement caught his eye and he looked back at the man standing on the steps of the rear coach.· There was a man standing over the patient looking down at the face completely encased in bandages.
· Outspoken speeches were given which received spontaneous standing ovations.· Only when the inevitable standing ovation was over, and their work was done in the conference hall, could they relax.· A packed Hall of graduates and undergraduates gave Baroness Park an affectionate standing ovation at the end of her after dinner speech.· After 29 songs, he earned a rather subdued standing ovation.
· Ornament taken: Thieves stole a £70 free standing stone ornament from a garden at a house in Brompton Road, Northallerton.· The strange standing stones, remnants of a burial chamber, are said to house an invisible living occupant - Wayland.· In addition to the circle, there was the King Stone standing stone and the Whispering Knights, a dolmen in close proximity.· A circle of standing stones ringed the open space, ancient and mysterious.· In their places were great standing stones, tall and thin and pointing for ever to the sky.
· She reminded Bowring of a streetwalker in some film, that image of a woman standing under a lamp surrounded by darkness.· There was a woman standing beside Mahmoud.· He'd tried to hurry Eloise away, to sidetrack the woman standing in their path.
VERB· This may have been coincidence or, as we noted earlier, a deliberate ploy to enhance his own standing.· Yet far from ruining the reputation of Camilla, the claims seemed only to enhance her standing within royal circles.· Some Members have claimed that the coverage the committees have received has enhanced their standing and authority.
· Early this morning she woke to find a masked gang standing in her bedroom.· I opened the door to find Mrs Puri standing to attention outside.· Seb opened the door to find Melody standing outside in the darkness.· They broke into a trot and found Mary standing in the middle of a thicket.· She looked up slowly, dully, to find a tiny lass standing by her, silently beckoning.· He said nothing as he found her standing on the pier, but accepted her silent invitation to walk.· I whipped the key out and turned to run through the Square only to find Shifty-Eyes standing blocking the pavement.· When she got back, she found William standing by the open door of the fire escape.
· The other system stressed that alliances could be maintained by remarriage and could be used to improve social standing.· Bishop Auckland have also moved heaven and earth to improve their standing.· Chemicals and pharmaceuticals, for example, have improved their standing against other companies in the top 200.
· Some are slow, leaving you standing, resigned, up an avenue where no one you know stays.· Bidding her wait, he left her standing while he walked slowly to the car and inspected it.· He went, leaving the door standing open.· He left her standing by the bank of lockers, and headed back toward the door.· And how dared he leave her standing out here in the bailey like a ... like a serf?· Her skirt dropped, leaving her standing in petticoat shreds.· I still have an abundance of energy that leaves my contemporaries standing.· Without her even being aware of it he had somehow moved into the cabin, leaving her standing at the open door.
· Theodora remained standing, polishing her reading glasses vigorously.· The lumps of stonework that had remained standing now crumbled.· She remained standing, evidently not very sure how to begin.· Then the gunman slumped, and Ellis remained standing, and she realised that the shot had missed.· For a moment Geoffrey's poor twisted, now virtually headless, body remained standing.· Romanov remained standing while he took in the room.· Only those convicted of criminal offences and President Ibrahim Babangida himself remain banned from standing in the elections.· Gabriel remained standing at the top of the steps: Garvey told him to do so.
· I saw another soldier standing behind him.· She hurried downstairs and saw Sam Morgan standing beside the van, smiling at her encouragingly.· It was the first time Jess had been aware of seeing her standing.· When she opened her eyes and saw Patrick standing in the room she started up with a cry.· Once she looked round and saw the driver standing, his back to her, leaning against the van.· So near that, had he glanced sideways, he would have been bound to see her standing with Thomas.· He saw Donald standing over him, a can of beans in his hand.· Who was the tall man I had seen standing against the moon?
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- The medical superintendent of a hospital had to be a duly qualified medical practitioner of five years' standing.
WORD FAMILYadjectivestandingoutstandingupstandingnounstandstandingverbstandadverboutstandingly
1someone’s rank or position in a system, organization, society etc, based on what other people think of them: Barb’s work helped to improve her standing with her colleagues.standing in The scandal damaged the governor’s standing in the polls.of high/low standing a lawyer of high standing► see thesaurus at reputation2something of five/many etc years’ standing used to show the time during which something such as an agreement has existed: an arrangement of several years’ standing