The Stupid Question: Other Words Besides 'Stood'

Does he just get up off the floor or is there urgency to his action, does he leap up to answer the phone or doorbell?

Or maybe you could just skip to the next action, e.g.

The doorbell rang. Bob hurried to open the door.

...implies he gets up. Crap example but you catch my drift.

-Derek

climbed?

Is there a particular feeling from the MC that you want to convene? Like "The MC 'rushed' off the floor" or "The MC 'meandered' off the floor." I couldn't find any interesting synonyms either, but when I come across words like that (words without good synonyms), I try to use another action word that perhaps would give more meaning to the action (as it show some sort of feeling from the character). Words that convey what the character is going through (like meander off the stage if the MC was disappointed by his performance or if he rushed off the stage because he suddenly saw an old schoolmate turned stalker). Just a suggestion.

Bob got to his feet and...?

(Maybe that's just an English phrase? I don't know. It's common over here.)

Bob struggled up from the floor as though each bone was made of lead

Bob leapt up and grabbed Sue

Bob pushed himself up from the chair and held on to it for a moment, as though his legs were unsure if they could support him

I'm stumped on this one. This maybe my first stupid question but not the last one.

The only words I find in my Thesaurus for 'stood up' are 'rise' and 'rise up'. The MC is getting off the floor. I don't want to use 'get up' or 'getting up' or 'rising up' or 'standing up'. Is there anything else I can use?

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I'm stumped, too, because context is everything in the type of question you pose.

WHY is he getting up off the floor? That will determine how he gets up.

Don't necessarily look for a single word - it may be preferable to show how he gets back to his feet.

Did he trip, in which case he maybe scrambled to his feet. Was he punched, in which case he may clutch at the table legs as he struggled to get up. Did he...? Was he...?

Bob got up to answer the door.
bob answered the door.
Bob went to the door.
Bob opened the door.
Bob rolled over and ignored the door.

Is it necessary to say he stood up?

In support of Bufty's post--sometimes in cases like this it is okay to use a little imagery or some poetic license, and describe how he moved from the floor to a standing position. Did he crouch and unfold (like some deliberate Yoga movements), did his knee joints pop as he straightened up, did he ease up, did he push himself up, shove upward, spring into a run like a track athlete using those starting blocks? Did he roll away and crouch behind a chair, slowly standing when he thought it was safe? Did he curse/laugh/grimmace/grunt while getting up?

It this is an unimportant movement you just want to get over with fast, just say stood up. It can also be used to show something about the character or the situation as well. Is he angry, afraid--some of the examples above can be used for these. Something about him--if he grunts and his knees pop as he "unfolds" it could indicate (or support) the idea that he is old, hurt, or both.

In almost all of these constructions, the word "up" is superfluous.

caw