To stand means to be upright on your feet, with your body vertical and your weight supported by your legs. When you stand up from your chair, you rise to this position. When you stand in line at the water fountain, you wait while upright on your feet.

Stood is the past tense of stand, describing this action in the past. “Yesterday I stood at the bus stop for ten minutes” tells what already happened. “The old lighthouse has stood on that cliff for 200 years” means it has remained there, upright and unchanged, all that time.

The word can also mean taking a position on an issue or refusing to back down. When someone says “she stood by her friend when others criticized him,” it means she remained loyal and supportive. When a person stood up for what they believed was right, they defended their principles even when it was difficult. A soldier who stood their ground during battle didn't retreat or give up their position.

You'll also hear phrases like “I stand corrected” (meaning I accepted that I was wrong) or “the agreement still stands” (meaning it remains valid and unchanged). The word carries this sense of being firm, stable, and unwavering, whether describing a physical position or a person's principles.