Definitions

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a suspension and relaxation from an alert state or a state of readiness
  • noun (military) a temporary stop of offensive military action

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Further, after initial resistance in which law enforcement was not only resisted but killed, it would not have been feasible to standdown.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Waco 2010

  • After the very badly handled initial contact, Howell had 51 days to surrender or arrange a standdown.

    Think Progress » Bachmann: Bill Clinton Is Trying To ‘Celebrate’ The Oklahoma City Bombing And ‘Take [Me] Out’ 2010

  • Further, after initial resistance in which law enforcement was not only resisted but killed, it would not have been feasible to standdown.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Waco 2010

  • It's probably logically equivalent to pointing out that we know how an effective way to stop terrorists from taking over civilian planes and using them for nefarious purposes: it's called "total ground standdown" and we saw it done in September 2001.

    Making Light: Beating airport chemical detection systems 2010

  • And the web site is called standdown. org if you want to find out more about him and all the great work that Roy Foster is doing.

    CNN Transcript Oct 24, 2009 2009

  • To the south, neither Taipei nor Beijing looks eager to heed Washington's pleas for a standdown from their war of words since Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui's incendiary comments in early July, when he seemed to edge the province toward independence.

    Uncle Who? 2008

  • Though a Sadr standdown order resolved the situation to a degree, the flare-up also highlighted the destructive role Iran has played in funding, training, arming and directing the so-called special groups and generated renewed concern about Iran in the minds of many Iraqi leaders.

    CNN Transcript Apr 9, 2008 2008

  • OpEdNews - Quicklink: ACC orders commandwide standdown Friday -

    OpEdNews - Quicklink: ACC orders commandwide standdown Friday - 2007

  • As a result of these three incidents, all of which occurred within just the last few hours, I'm calling on the industry to cease production activities immediately and go into a mine safety standdown.

    CNN Transcript Feb 1, 2006 2006

  • They also faced an uncertain near-term future that included a shuttle fleet composed of only three orbiters, a shuttle flight standdown of unknown duration, and equally uncertain impacts on the completion and use of the International Space

    NASA Watch: Keith Cowing: June 2004 Archives 2004

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  • A more industrious Wordnik might research the timelines of this word's usage and meanings, beginning perhaps with its evolution as an unhyphenated pair or terms, a hyphenated pair, to a compound noun.

    February 12, 2011