standby

/ˈstændˌbaɪ/
adjective
  1. Kept ready for immediate use or action.
    • The hospital keeps standby equipment for critical situations.
    • We have a standby plan in case the weather turns bad.
    • The standby crew arrived within minutes of the alarm.
Antonyms
verb
  1. To wait for something, especially to be ready to act when needed.
    • She stood by, ready to help if anyone fell.
    • The team will standby until the signal is given.
    • Please standby for further instructions.
noun
  1. A person or thing that is kept ready to be used when needed, especially in an emergency.
    • She was the standby for the lead actress in case she got sick.
    • The hospital has a standby generator for emergencies.
    • Keep a flashlight as a standby in case the power goes out.
  2. A mode of operation in which a device is ready for use but not actively running, to save energy.
    • He pressed the button to switch the console to standby.
    • The TV uses a small amount of power even in standby mode.
    • Put your computer on standby when you leave the office.
  3. A status for a passenger waiting for an available seat on a flight or other transport without a reservation.
    • She listed herself as standby for the morning train.
    • Standby passengers are called only after all ticketed passengers have boarded.
    • We flew standby and managed to get seats on the last flight.
What does "standby" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean