Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun stand_by

2 senses of standby

Sense 1
standby -- (something that can be relied on when needed)
       => thing -- (an artifact; "how does this thing work?")

Sense 2
understudy, standby -- (an actor able to replace a regular performer when required)
       => actor, histrion, player, thespian, role player -- (a theatrical performer)

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb stand_by

3 senses of stand by

Sense 1
stand by -- (not act or do anything; "He just stood by when the police beat up the demonstrators")
       => refrain, forbear -- (resist doing something; "He refrained from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping")

Sense 2
stand by, stick around, stick about -- (be available or ready for a certain function or service)
       => wait -- (stay in one place and anticipate or expect something; "I had to wait on line for an hour to get the tickets")

Sense 3
stand by, stick by, stick, adhere -- (be loyal to; "She stood by her husband in times of trouble"; "The friends stuck together through the war")
       => be -- (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer")

Antonyms of adj stand_by

1 sense of standby

Sense 1
standby -- (ready for emergency use; "a standby generator"; "a standby crew")

INDIRECT (VIA secondary) -> primary -- (of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary; "primary goals"; "a primary effect"; "primary sources"; "a primary interest")

Similarity of adj stand_by

1 sense of standby

Sense 1
standby -- (ready for emergency use; "a standby generator"; "a standby crew")
       => secondary (vs. primary) -- (being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate; "the stone will be hauled to a secondary crusher"; "a secondary source"; "a secondary issue"; "secondary streams")