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
Israel’s military stands by for renewal of combat Israel’s military issued a statement around the time that direct talks began. — Victoria Eastwood, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026 Pulte, who is now also the director of national intelligence, in a statement after Monday's ruling, stood by his accusations. — Dan Mangan,luke Fountain, CNBC, 29 June 2026
Noun
Rocket Lab was supposed to have a satellite on standby to go up and inspect True Anomaly’s spacecraft, ready to launch on short notice once military officials gave the order. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2026 Pretoria responded to the threat of violence in June 30 protests with millions of dollars shuffled inside the police budget, tactical units deployed, and soldiers on standby. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for stand by
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stand by
  1. defend
  2. anchor
  3. backbone
  4. mainstay
  5. reliance
  6. pillar
Verb
  • While San Francisco’s bullpen is struggling, Rogers is in the midst of another excellent season after signing a three-year, $37 million deal to join the defending American League champions.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • This year, Argentina is defending its World Cup title, with Messi widely regarded as one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
    — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of defend
Noun
  • She has also been spotted working as a substitute anchor for various personnel, particularly on weekends.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 1 July 2026
  • With a fresh margarita in hand, Josef launches into a 70-minute monologue about his Life and Times, which carries on past Nathan’s anchor-watch shift and into Coop’s.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 30 June 2026
Definition of anchor
Noun
  • Building a century of infrastructure What Bucyrus built in South Milwaukee fanned out across the country, shaping the backbone of modern America.
    — Malika Bowling, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Brut Champagne gives the drink its backbone—its acidity stays crisp against the other players, keeping the drink focused and bright.
    — Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 July 2026
Definition of backbone
Noun
  • Since the end of Voyager, Phillips has remained a television guest spot mainstay.
    — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026
  • Yet, the transition from teenage phenom to professional mainstay has been anything but a linear ascent.
    — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of mainstay
Noun
  • Hamilton coped best with adapting his driving style around Formula 1's new reliance on battery power to take pole position in qualifying for Saturday's sprint race.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • The investment also reflects a broader push across Europe to expand domestic chip manufacturing and reduce reliance on overseas production for strategically important technologies.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Definition of reliance
Noun
  • The only way to preserve our republic is to strengthen the pillars of our present with the mortar of our past.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • These clips, showing first-person views from drones striking military and logistical sites, have become a pillar of Ukraine’s wartime propaganda efforts to illustrate battlefield successes against Russia.
    — Marc Santora, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of pillar

Browse Nearby Words

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 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on stand by

Nglish: Translation of stand by for Spanish Speakers

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