grandstand

1 of 3

noun

grand·​stand ˈgran(d)-ˌstand How to pronounce grandstand (audio)
1
: a usually roofed stand for spectators at a racecourse or stadium
2

grandstand

2 of 3

adjective

: done for show or to impress onlookers

grandstand

3 of 3

verb

grandstanded; grandstanding; grandstands

intransitive verb

: to play or act so as to impress onlookers

Examples of grandstand in a Sentence

Adjective The outfielder made a grandstand play out of what should have been a routine catch.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
With 66,000 grandstand seats and more than 3,000 RV campsites, NASCAR fans from across the country would travel to Sparta, a city of 231 in Gallatin County, for a few weekends each year to enjoy the thrill of high-speed motorsports. Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Oct. 2025 The course’s main grandstand held about 5,000 people and spanned the first tee and the 18th green. Kevin Coulson, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
As is often the case with high-profile, or celebrity indictments and arrests, there are some theatrics and grandstanding here. Mac Engel october 23, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2025 Ghaywan’s script is explicit but never priggish in its moral standing, letting the outstanding performances drive home the perils of bigotry more than any grandstanding dialogue. Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grandstand

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1754, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1883, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1915, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of grandstand was in 1754

Cite this Entry

“Grandstand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grandstand. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

grandstand

noun
grand·​stand
-ˌstand
: a usually roofed stand for spectators at a racecourse or stadium

More from Merriam-Webster on grandstand

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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