Stand for means to represent something or be short for it (of an abbreviation or a symbol), and also to support an idea or value. The first meaning is useful in any conversation about abbreviations: What does IELTS stand for? The second is used about the values of people, parties and companies.
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X stands for + full name; What does X stand for?; stand for + value/idea
- IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System.
- On this map, the blue dots stand for train stations.
- Our small bakery stands for fresh bread and fair prices.
What changed
First versionSorry, what does KPI stand in your report?
RevisionSorry, what does KPI stand for in your report?
It is easy to drop for in a question, but the preposition stays with the verb and moves to the end: What does KPI stand for? Without for, stand simply means to be on your feet.
Stand up for means to defend someone or your rights: She stood up for her colleague at the meeting. Stand for is about the meaning of a symbol or someone's views: The party stands for lower taxes.
Your turn
Everyone in our team uses the abbreviation ASAP, but nobody remembers what it ___.
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stands for — The sentence is about an abbreviation, and stands for gives its full form. Stands up for means defends, and it is used about people and rights, not letters.
Choose an abbreviation you often see at work or in your studies. Write what it stands for and where you see it.
In our office emails, ETA stands for estimated time of arrival, and we use it when we ask about deliveries.
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