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Glite Dictionary
🔋 A backup ⏳ Ready if needed
standby

standby

3.7
Kept ready to be used if needed
  • adjective
  • /ˈstændˌbaɪ/
translation icon : de reserva
  • And, and you know, I'm hearing from friends that the National Guard is, is starting, is on standby now for up to one week deployment.

Examples

  • Okay, yeah, I'm just saying, oh, take out the grape Jelly and we'll just have it on standby as like a last resort.

  • But it's going to be on standby for this next one.

  • And then you're on standby for any real world calls.

  • If you need a refresh at any point in this tasting, we have some refreshing Tobo Chico on standby and your mythical sip and slide sippers.

  • The emergency services are always on standby to respond to any natural disasters.

  • Please keep a first aid kit on standby in case of an accident during the event.

  • The backup generator is on standby to provide power if the main supply fails.

Synonyms

on hand
vsstandby
81 2.1

Ready to use or help when needed

is reserved specifically as a backup for emergencies rather than general presence
at the ready
vsstandby
20 3.5

Prepared and available to use immediately

is stored for emergency backup rather than meant for instant action
fallback
vsstandby
4.4

People use it as a reserve when the main option fails

is kept ready mainly for emergencies or when the usual choice fails
waiting
vsstandby
1.0

Ready and available for use or action

is kept for emergencies or when the usual option fails rather than general readiness
on the ready
vsstandby
5.3

Prepared and alert to act immediately

is held for emergencies or system failure rather than rapid active response

Antonyms

unprepared
69 2.8

Not ready for something because the things you need or a plan are missing

How Ready

standby
3.7
active
664 1.0
idle
57 2.8
unavailable
81 3.4

Surface Forms

standby positive

Morphology

standby = stand (semi-transparent) = by + stand

The word is built from the familiar elements 'stand' and 'by', but the emergency-ready sense is a conventional extension of the phrase rather than a fully literal combination. [Postprocessing: moved 'by' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

Standby comes from the phrase stand by, made of stand ('to stay') and by ('near'). Think of a machine 'standing by' quietly until it is needed, so standby as an adjective means kept ready for use.