Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

standby

1 noun
     
stand‧by1 , stand-by plural standbys
1

on standby

a) ready to help immediately if you are needed:
A special team of police were kept on standby.
b) if you are on standby to do something, for example to travel by plane, you are on a list of people who may be allowed to do it if places become available, for example if other people cannot use their tickets:
We can put you on standby.
➔ stand by (4)
2 [countable] something that is kept ready so that it can be used when needed:
Powdered milk is a good standby in an emergency.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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