stand down

USAGE SUMMARY

"stand down" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean "cease an activity or operation," as in this example sentence: "The soldiers were given orders to stand down at the end of the training exercise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Will Farquaad stand down?

The New York Times

But will his father stand down?

The Economist

"I have therefore agreed to stand down".

The New York Times

"I will not stand down".

The New York Times - Sports

Richard Sharp should stand down".

The Guardian

Surely they can stand down now?

The Times

It's hard to stand down there.

The New York Times - Sports

"They need to stand down," he said.

The Guardian

Stand down, please, call off the dogs.

The Guardian - Opinion

He is expected to stand down soon.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

This Thursday, the Army is calling a "Suicide Stand-Down".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stand down" when you want to indicate that an order has been given to stop or cease some kind of activity. It's common in military, police, and political contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "stand down" in informal contexts where alternatives like "relax" or "take a break" might be more appropriate. The phrase implies a level of formality due to its origins in military and official language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stand down" functions primarily as a phrasal verb. It instructs to cease an action or relinquish a position. Ludwig's examples shows it in contexts related to military, politics, and general commands to stop.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stand down" is a versatile phrasal verb primarily used to instruct the cessation of an activity or the relinquishment of a position. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently found in news and media contexts. Its origins in military and official language lend it a formal tone, so it's essential to consider the context when choosing alternatives. While "stand down" effectively communicates a command to stop, synonyms like "cease operations" or "withdraw" can offer nuanced substitutes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cease operations

This alternative emphasizes the termination of ongoing activities or tasks.

retreat

This implies a withdrawal from a current position or situation.

withdraw

Similar to retreat, this suggests a movement away from an involvement or commitment.

relinquish control

This alternative focuses on the act of giving up authority or power.

step aside

Suggests vacating a position or role to allow someone else to take over.

de-escalate

Focuses on reducing the intensity or severity of a situation.

back off

Implies a reduction in pressure or involvement in a situation.

cease resistance

This focuses on ending opposition or struggle.

call off

This means to cancel or stop something.

disengage

Indicates a separation or detachment from an activity or conflict.

FAQs

How to use "stand down" in a sentence?

"Stand down" is typically used to instruct someone to stop an activity or relinquish a position. For instance, "The general ordered the troops to stand down" or "The senator decided to "step aside" and "stand down" from the committee".

What does "stand down" mean in a military context?

In a military context, "stand down" means to cease active duty or to be relieved from a state of alert. It indicates that soldiers or units are no longer required to be on immediate readiness or engaged in an operation.

Which is correct, "stand down" or "stood down"?

Both "stand down" and "stood down" are correct, but they have different tenses. "Stand down" is the present tense or infinitive form, while "stood down" is the past tense and past participle. Example: "They were told to "stand down"" (present), "They "stood down" after the mission" (past).

What are some alternatives to "stand down"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "stand down" include "cease operations", "retreat", "withdraw", or "relinquish control". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.