standby
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a state of being ready to act or help immediately if something happens.
n.a state of readiness or availability for immediate action or use, often in response to an emergency.
Simple“The emergency crew was on standby throughout the heavy storm.”
In context“Medical teams remained on standby at the stadium, prepared to intervene should any spectators suffer from heat exhaustion during the match.”
Usageoften used with the preposition 'on'
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a mode where a device is not fully on but can start quickly.
n.a low-power mode in which an electronic device is kept ready for immediate operation.
Simple“Don't leave your computer on standby all night if you want to save energy.”
In context“Modern televisions consume a negligible amount of electricity when left on standby, though environmental groups still recommend a full power-down.”
Synonymssleep modepower save - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.waiting at an airport for a seat to become available on a full flight.
n.a status for travellers who wait for unallocated seats on a flight that is officially fully booked.
Simple“We didn't have tickets, so we had to wait on standby for the next plane to London.”
In context“The airline staff managed to clear the standby list after several passengers failed to check in for the transatlantic flight.”
Synonymswaitlist - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describing something that is kept ready to be used if the main one fails.
adj.kept in reserve for use in an emergency or as a substitute.
Simple“The hotel has a standby generator in case the electricity goes out.”
In context“The airline maintains a pool of standby pilots at major hubs to ensure that crew illness does not result in flight cancellations.”
Usageusually sits before the noun
“That's enough to cover "always-on" electrical appliances such as fridges and devices left on standby.”
Deverbal from stand by.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.