standby Hear it!

standby definition

standby (stand′bī′)

noun pl. standbys -·bys′

  1. a person or thing that can always be depended on, is always effective, etc.
  2. a person or thing ready to serve or be put into service on an emergency basis or as a substitute
  3. a person waiting to board an airplane, etc. if space becomes available, as through a cancellation

adjective

of, for, or functioning as a standby
standby Idioms

on standby

ready or waiting as a standby

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.