Standing: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'standing' to refer to someone's reputation or rank in a particular area over a period of time.

• His standing in the academic community is impeccable
• The athlete's standing was questioned after the scandal

Use 'position' to refer to someone's place or role in an organization or hierarchy. It can also refer to their viewpoint or stance on an issue.

• Her position in the company has significantly improved
• They debated their positions on healthcare reform

Use 'status' to indicate someone's social or professional standing or the current state of something. This term can be more general and widespread.

• His status as a leading expert in the field is undeniable
• The status of the project is currently pending

Use 'rank' to refer to someone's specific place in an ordered system, often numerical or hierarchical. It's commonly used in military or organizational settings.

• He rose to the rank of captain in the army
• She holds the rank of senior manager in the firm

This term is often used to describe someone's general position or rank in a specific context, such as a social group, community, or organization. It can be more formal and is used in both positive and neutral descriptions.

• Her standing within the academic community is quite high.
• The team's standing in the league has improved significantly this season.

Used to describe the overall perception of someone or something by others, often based on past actions, behavior, or performance. Reputation can be positive, negative, or neutral, and it reflects what people think of someone primarily due to their actions.

• He has a reputation for being very reliable.
• The company has struggled to rebuild its reputation after the scandal.

Refers to one's current social, professional, or economic position relative to others. It often implies a certain level of respect, authority, or importance and can be used in various formal and informal contexts.

• She has achieved a high status in the corporate world.
• His status as a celebrity brings him a lot of attention.

Often used to describe someone or something that is in an upright position on their feet. Commonly refers to both humans and objects in a physical sense, but can also describe social status (e.g., 'standing in society').

• She was standing by the window.
• His standing in the community has been affected by the scandal.

Often used to describe integrity or moral correctness, but also describes physical posture. It can refer to both humans and objects. This word carries positive connotations when referring to character.

• He is known as an upright citizen.
• Keep your back upright while sitting.

Used more formally to indicate something is upright and rigid, often with an emphasis on intentionality or effort. Frequently used in a medical or biological context, and can have a slightly archaic tone.

• The statue stands erect in the town square.
• The doctor noted that his posture was erect.

Primarily used to describe the orientation of something in relation to the ground, going straight up and down. Commonly used in both everyday language and technical contexts such as geometry or physics.

• The lines on the graph are vertical.
• She drew a vertical line down the paper.