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- 1ready to do something immediately if needed or asked The emergency services were put on standby after a bomb warning. As the level of the water rose, villages were put on evacuation standby. The troops are on 24-hour standby (= ready to move at an time of the day or night).
- 2ready to travel or go somewhere if a ticket or something that is needed suddenly becomes available He was put on standby for the flight to New York.
Check pronunciation: standby