noun

• 1The way in which someone stands, especially when deliberately adopted (as in cricket, golf, and other sports); a person's posture.

  ‘she altered her stance, resting all her weight on one leg’

  More example sentences

  • ‘For instance, some youngsters who struggle to play shots on the on-side adopt an open stance.’
  • ‘He explains how he never adopts exactly the same stance for any ball, just stands where he feels comfortable.’
  • ‘Some observers feel his stance has been too upright, causing him to struggle with outside pitches.’
  • ‘I keep my stance simple, standing on the line of the crease with my feet a comfortable width apart.’
  • ‘He struggled until recently, when he evened out his stance and balanced his weight.’
  • ‘Three different stances may be adopted, which correspond to three different fighting styles - fast, medium, and strong.’
  • ‘Adopt a stance where your feet are about nine inches apart, and point your toes slightly outward.’
  • ‘His body had already adopted the stance of a fighter.’
  • ‘Adopt a stance with the head erect, neither hanging down, nor looking up, nor twisted.’
  • ‘He sighed and took a step back from her, adopting a nonchalant stance as best he could.’
  • ‘This stance allows the defender to be on balance, to be strong and to be agile.’
  • ‘She stood in a defensive stance, not backing down from his stare, fists clenched at her sides.’
  • ‘When adopting a stance, the bowler should be looking primarily for ease and comfort.’
  • ‘He has even taken to adopting a putting stance that looks for all the world as though he is about to do the splits.’
  • ‘He instinctively adopted a fighting stance, almost daring them to attack.’
  • ‘Relaxing his shoulders, he took up an aggressive fighting stance.’
  • ‘The boy put up his fists in a defensive fighting stance as thunder boomed in the distance.’
  • ‘In the second rounds, Simms switched to a southpaw stance, which paid quick dividends.’
  • ‘He is credited with inventing the southpaw stance in boxing.’
  • ‘She took a solid stance, right hand hovering over the hilt as if ready to draw.’

  Synonyms

  posture, body position, pose, attitude, bearing

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  1. 1.1The attitude of a person or organization towards something; a standpoint.
     ‘the party is changing its stance on Europe’
     More example sentences

     • ‘I know there are a lot of people in the region who also respect his strong stance on family issues.’
     • ‘However, street protests made the government reverse its stance on the privatization of water services.’
     • ‘I once again implore that you reconsider your stance on this matter.’
     • ‘Ultimately, however, this film takes a stance on youthful rebellion that is as uncomfortable as it is unusual.’
     • ‘Jacques Chirac thought he would take a tough stance on crime during this election campaign to assuage voters' fears and anxieties.’
     • ‘Voters who have turned to the Greens have done so for a range of reasons, not simply because of their stance on the environment.’
     • ‘In this edition we asked all ten political candidates about their stance on waste management and refuse services.’
     • ‘In particular, his robust stance on discipline is very welcome.’
     • ‘Her reticence, he surmises, was based on her conservative stance on social issues.’
     • ‘Earlier the party debated its new stance on law and order, or ‘tough Liberalism’.’
     • ‘A tough stance on crime should not be at the expense of innocent people losing their long-treasured liberties.’
     • ‘We hope the government will take a firm stance on the issue.’
     • ‘Patent litigation is expensive, and a large company can wear down almost anyone if it adopts a hard-line stance.’
     • ‘His aggressive stance on social issues will surely warm the hearts of influential religious conservatives.’
     • ‘Authorities should assume an aggressive stance in screening money laundering and its related crimes.’
     • ‘The party appear to have changed their stance on this matter.’
     • ‘The company has drawn fire from labor groups, who say the company has an anti-union stance.’
     • ‘The new administration favour a more hands-off stance in relation to global financial turbulence.’
     • ‘In principle, many European countries adopt the stance that all lawful and serious agreements are contracts.’
     • ‘Writers on research ethics adopt different stances concerning the ethical issues that arise in connection with relationships between researchers and research participants.’
     Synonyms

     attitude, stand, point of view, viewpoint, opinion, way of thinking, outlook, standpoint, posture, position, angle, perspective, approach, slant, thinking, line, policy, thoughts, ideas, sentiments, feelings

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• 2Scottish A site on a street for a market, street vendor's stall, or taxi rank.

  ‘The ideal location for a Street Trader's stance is a point where the pavement is much wider than usual or there is a suitable recess.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘It may be that a young man or woman has stood at a certain stance over a period of years, and some other person poaches on the ground and tries to force them down the street.’

  Synonyms

  site, place, spot, station

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• 3Climbing
  A ledge or foothold on which a belay can be secured.

  ‘After carefully stacking ropes for the double rap, he moved out to the stance to set lines and toss.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘This course teaches you how to lead climb on natural protection and set up belays and stances.’
  • ‘A single pitch route is one which is climbed without intermediate stances.’