stand-in

1 of 2

noun

ˈstand-ˌin How to pronounce stand-in (audio)
Synonyms of stand-innext
1
: someone employed to occupy an actor's place while lights and camera are readied
2
: substitute

stand in

2 of 2

verb

stood in; standing in; stands in

intransitive verb

: to act as a stand-in
see also:
stand in with

Synonyms of stand-in

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Noun

Verb

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Examples of stand-in in a Sentence

Noun hired him at the last minute as a stand-in for the person who quit Verb she will be standing in for the regular teacher for a week
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
While Shawkat is credited as Robin Robins in the movie, her character is a stand-in for bass guitarist Jacqueline Fuchs (aka Jackie Fox). — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 9 Aug. 2026 Like fainting, craving pickles, or struggling to wiggle into skinny jeans, vomiting, in the cultural imagination, is a stand-in for imminent motherhood, as legible as any pregnancy test. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
Shoichiro and Kikuko stood in the storefront watching the doctor leave after making a truly fortunate determination. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 Across the hall, in a lavender family room, a vintage TV installation by Jennifer stands in a corner playing hazy family videos and iconic cultural moments such as James Brown’s famously bizarre 1988 CNN interview on a loop. — Jewel Wicker, Architectural Digest, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stand-in

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1904, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stand-in was in 1904

Rhymes for stand-in

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Browse Nearby Words

standholder
stand-in
stand in
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stand-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stand-in. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

stand-in

1 of 2 noun
ˈstan-ˌdin
1
: someone employed to occupy an actor's place while lights and camera are readied
2
: substitute entry 1

stand in

2 of 2 verb
(ˈ)stan-ˈdin
: to act as a stand-in
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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