stand by 1 of 2

verb

Definition of stand bynext
as in to keep (to)
to give steadfast support to no matter how much people object, I will stand by my decision

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

standby

2 of 2

noun

ˈstan(d)-ˌbī How to pronounce standby (audio)
as in anchor
something or someone to which one looks for support our old standby in times of trouble

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of stand by
Verb
The organizers of a plan aimed at making Pittsburgh's South Side safer are standing by their efforts. — Jessica Riley, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026 George and Amal Clooney are standing by their French community after evacuating their home as wildfires spread across parts of Europe. — Charlie Carballo, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Noun
Clanton served as a standby for the role as well as for Toulouse-Lautrec, the painter/playwright portrayed by John Leguizamo in Baz Luhrmann’s film. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 29 July 2026 Talks over an extension were put on standby during this summer’s World Cup but resumed following Senegal’s elimination in the round of 32. — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for stand by
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stand by
  1. abide by
  2. anchor
  3. hold to
  4. backbone
  5. defend
  6. mainstay
  7. reliance
  8. pillar
Verb
  • But as a rookie, Wilson doesn’t plan to abide by that hierarchy.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
  • Courts still must abide by their precedents and these three legal pillars if a lawsuit hits their dockets.
    — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 22 June 2026
Definition of abide by
Noun
  • Tassel accents make a great outfit anchor; what once adorned the home brings elegance and opulence to your wardrobe.
    — Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Joe gives Joy a quick lesson on dropping the anchor beforehand.
    — Emma Soren, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of anchor
Verb
  • Reese, Naz Hilman and Madina Okot were held to 28 points combined with Okot scoring 16 – mostly in the fourth quarter.
    — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
  • After scoring 14 runs to begin this four-game series, the Royals have been held to just five runs in their last 18 innings.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026
Definition of hold to
Noun
  • Nurses form the essential backbone of post-neurosurgery ICU care, providing continuous vigilance and skilled bedside assessment after complex spine and cranial procedures.
    — Richard Menger MD MPA, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The road was the backbone of Charlotte’s transportation at the time.
    — DJ Simmons, Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of backbone
Verb
  • High defensive line When playing a back four, Coventry always defend in a 4-4-2.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • After winning the inaugural chess competition at the Esports World Cup (EWC) last year, the Norwegian Grandmaster successfully defended his crown after beating Denis Lazavik in straight sets in the Grand Final in Paris on Saturday.
    — Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of defend
Noun
  • Released by Bristol City after three seasons as a mainstay of their team in the second-tier Championship, the former Manchester United academy kid unwittingly found himself in limbo.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Land sales, long a mainstay of local government finances, have collapsed amid the property downturn.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of mainstay
Noun
  • The watchdog also criticized internal affairs investigators’ reliance on deputies’ logs and detectives’ case files, which were oriented at establishing criminal liability, not examining institutional flaws.
    — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Top Navy officials have indicated a desire to move away from a heavy reliance on carriers.
    — Ben Finley, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of reliance
Noun
  • Webb later revisited the region in infrared, seeing through more of the dust and revealing stars hidden inside and behind the pillars.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Washington and Beijing also appear to be making no progress towards building a pillar of their trade truce, a bilateral board of investment, the head of a top US business group told the South China Morning Post.
    — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of pillar

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standards
stand by
standby
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Cite this Entry

“Stand by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stand%20by. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of stand by for Spanish Speakers

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