KPOP Meaning
A stan is a very enthusiastic fan, and to stan is to support someone that way. According to a 2017 TIME report, the Oxford English Dictionary defines stan as "an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity", dating it to the early 21st century and probably alluding to Eminem's 2000 song "Stan", the fictional story of an overzealous fan whose obsession ends in tragedy. The Cambridge Dictionary defines a stan as someone who admires and follows a famous person to an extreme level, with the example "There is a difference between being a stan and being a fan", and the verb as admiring someone to an unusual extent, as in "What would make you stop stanning an idol?".
Usage
Used as noun or verb, e.g. "I stan them".
Examples
- English-speaking fans say "I stan ___" to name who they support.
- As a noun, a stan is a very enthusiastic fan.
In context
Sources
- Cambridge Dictionary: stan
What we checked
Cambridge Dictionary: stan
- TIME: 'Stan' Is Now an Officially Recognized Word in the Oxford English Dictionary (June 1, 2017)
What we checked
the OED defines stan as "an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity" and cites the origin as "early 21st century" and "probably an allusion" to the rapper's seminal 2000 single "Stan"…the word can also be used as a verb / The memorable track featured Dido and chronicled the fictional tale of an overzealous fan whose creepy obsession with Slim Shady leads to a fatal end