Stand for meaning in English
Learn how to use Stand for correctly with Gymglish.
Test and improve your English. Start your free trial today.
TEST YOUR ENGLISH
Free trial and no commitment to buy
4,7 on App Store, Play Store and Trustpilot
More than 8 million learners worldwide
Definition
to stand for (something): to mean, to represent, to symbolize, to signify, to typify (something)
-What do the initials UFO stand for? -"Unidentified flying object".
Each of the stars in the American flag stands for one of the States in the Union.
Examples
- "" stand for?"
- "Rachid : It stands for "District of Columbia", Moira."
- "Here are some questions for those of you aged under 25: What do the letters "LP" stand for?"
- "A GPA stands for "Grade Point Average"."
- "If you look closely you'll see the initials "XD" which stand for Xavier Delavigne – Bruno's grandfather."
Exercise 1
Select the correct phrase to describe an acronym ("R&D"):
"R&D" "research and development".
Select the correct phrase to describe an abbreviation ("lab"): "Lab" "laboratory".
Select the correct phrase to describe an abbreviation ("lab"): "Lab" "laboratory".
Select the correct phrase to describe an acronym ("R&D"):
"R&D" stands for 1 "research and development".
Select the correct phrase to describe an abbreviation ("lab"): "Lab" is short for 2 "laboratory".
Select the correct phrase to describe an abbreviation ("lab"): "Lab" is short for 2 "laboratory".
1 stands for: The idiom "to stand for" is used to specify an acronym. Example: "U.N." is an acronym for the United Nations, therefore we can ask, "what does "U.N." stand for?" if we want to know what the initials signify. "R&D" is an acronym for research and development: R&D stands for research and development.
1 takes after: This is incorrect. The idiom "to take after" means to resemble (in appearance or character), for example: Edward takes after his father, he has the same blonde hair and is just as shy.
1 is even with: This is not the correct expression to use.
1 is the diminutive of: This is not the correct expression to use.
2 is short for: This is the correct answer. The idiom "to be short for" is used to describe the abbreviated or shortened form of a word. Example: Photo is short for photograph, Bill is short for William.
2 adds up to: This is not the correct expression to use.
2 passes for: This is not the correct expression to use.
2 is the surname of: This is incorrect. "Surname" is synonymous with "last name". Bruno's surname is Delavigne.
Exercise 2
Susie wants to know where Delavigne stands on the issue of subcontracting.
Which of the following sentences uses a similar idiom in the same sense as the text?
Which of the following sentences uses a similar idiom in the same sense as the text?
Susie wants to know where Delavigne stands on the issue of subcontracting.
Which of the following sentences uses a similar idiom in the same sense as the text?
Excerpt: Hopefully he will get back to me soon, so that I will know where Delavigne stands on these issues.
Which of the following sentences uses a similar idiom in the same sense as the text?
The idiom "to stand for" is different than to "know where someone stands" on something. "U.N." is an acronym for the United Nations. Therefore we can ask, "what does "U.N." stand for?" if we want to know what the initials signify.
Although "to stand up" indicates the physical act of standing, this literal meaning does not carry the same meaning as the idiom in the text.
To "be unable to stand something" means that someone cannot tolerate, or has "little patience" for something. This use of the term "stand" is different than the way Susie uses the term in her e-mail.
To know "where someone stands" means to understand their position or opinion on a topic. In this case, the speaker is unsure about the president's opinion on social security. In Susie's e-mail, she asks Bruno about Delavigne's position on subcontracting.
Excerpt: Hopefully he will get back to me soon, so that I will know where Delavigne stands on these issues.
Still unsure of the best way to use 'Stand for'? Improve your English thanks to our online English lessons. We offer a free test as well as a free level assessment!
What our users say:
Test your English with Gymglish today and get a free level assessment
Absolutely free - no strings attached.
