are standing by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are standing by" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone is ready and available to assist or respond when needed. Example: "The support team are standing by to help you with any issues you may encounter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Comment moderators are standing by.

The New York Times

"My factories are standing by".

The New York Times

"We are standing by them," she said.

Independent

Legislative SWAT teams are standing by.

The New York Times

"We are standing by the Tunisian government.

Independent

Operators are standing by to disconnect you.

The New York Times - Sports

The rest are standing by.

The New York Times

More than 1,900 police are standing by.

The New York Times

Note to Oprah: Operators are standing by.

The New York Times - Books

Most are standing by their faith.

The New York Times

Still, parishioners are standing by their pastor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to describe that you are ready to assist or respond when needed, you can effectively use the phrase "are standing by".

Common error

Avoid using "are standing by" when referring to past events; instead, use "were standing by" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are standing by" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a state of readiness or availability. It combines an auxiliary verb ("are") with a present participle ("standing") and a preposition ("by") to express that someone or something is prepared and waiting to take action or provide assistance, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are standing by" is a common and grammatically correct verbal phrase used to indicate readiness and availability. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys that someone or something is prepared to take action or offer assistance. Its usage spans from news and media to formal business settings, maintaining a mostly neutral tone. Alternative phrases like ""are ready"" or ""are on standby"" can be used to achieve similar effects, but "are standing by" specifically emphasizes immediate responsiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are ready

Focuses on immediate availability and preparedness.

are on standby

Emphasizes a state of alert and preparedness for immediate action.

are prepared

Highlights the completion of necessary preparations for a task or situation.

are supporting

Shifts the focus to providing active assistance or endorsement.

are upholding

Indicates a commitment to maintaining or defending a principle or decision.

are maintaining

Implies a continuous effort to keep something in a particular state or condition.

are sticking to

Highlights adherence to a plan, decision, or belief.

are awaiting

Emphasizes the act of waiting for something to happen or for further instructions.

are defending

Focuses on protecting a position or belief against opposition.

are backing

Indicates providing support or resources to a person or cause.

FAQs

What does "are standing by" mean?

The phrase "are standing by" generally means that someone or something is ready and available to assist, support, or take action when needed. It implies a state of preparedness and readiness.

How can I use "are standing by" in a sentence?

You can use "are standing by" to indicate readiness, like in the sentence "The customer service representatives "are ready" to assist you with any inquiries" or "Emergency services "are on standby" during the event".

What's a more formal way to say "are standing by"?

In more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "are prepared", ""are ready"", or "are available" to convey a similar meaning with a slightly more professional tone.

Is there a difference between "are standing by" and "are waiting"?

While both phrases imply a state of anticipation, "are standing by" suggests a higher level of readiness and preparedness for immediate action. "are waiting" simply indicates that someone is expecting something to happen.