stand 1 of 2

1
as in to sit
to occupy a place or location the monument stands in the middle of the town plaza

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
as in to pay
to give what is owed for I'll stand lunch, and you can pay me back later

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in to be
to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes if the city's baseball team wins today, they will stand first in the league

Synonyms & Similar Words

stand

2 of 2

noun

as in podium
a level usually raised surface marchers passed by the reviewing stand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb stand differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of stand are abide, bear, endure, suffer, and tolerate. While all these words mean "to put up with something trying or painful," stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

When is abide a more appropriate choice than stand?

Although the words abide and stand have much in common, abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

When can bear be used instead of stand?

The synonyms bear and stand are sometimes interchangeable, but bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

In what contexts can endure take the place of stand?

While the synonyms endure and stand are close in meaning, endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

When could suffer be used to replace stand?

The meanings of suffer and stand largely overlap; however, suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

When might tolerate be a better fit than stand?

In some situations, the words tolerate and stand are roughly equivalent. However, tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

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
Verb
Yet that level of potential trauma stood little chance against the greater forces of opera, his great childhood love. Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025 Based on judges scores and viewers votes, Hilaria, Corey and Baron were the last three couples standing. Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
Flight 10 was a bounce-back mission for Starship; SpaceX had lost Ship prematurely on the previous three test flights, and another one of the upper-stage vehicles exploded on the test stand this past June. Mike Wall, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2025 Large professional detachable zoom lenses, stands, monopods, tripods or selfie sticks. Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stand
Verb
  • Or rather not sitting, but dancing.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Xicoia will sit alongside AI production company Particle6, which Van Der Velden founded in 2015, and will build on Particle6’s proprietary avatar personality engine DeepFame plus a direct fan engagement platform.
    Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Kirk is being celebrated as a champion of free speech who was willing to debate anyone anywhere and who was killed by someone who could not tolerate his views.
    Louis Menand, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Surprisingly, marine life appeared to tolerate toxins like TNT and RDX.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Past contestants have confirmed that pay increases as the season progresses.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Two seasons ago, Detroit opted to throw him to the wolves, and his reputation started to pay the price.
    The Athletic NHL, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • There are 4,550 spaces allocated for residents, 2,100 spaces for entertainment center visitors and 390 spaces for store and restaurant patrons.
    Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Now there are three locations (the newest in the Berryessa area near BART), and their first stand at Levi’s Stadium.
    Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Sorkin’s win was among the film’s three trips to the podium.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Hamilton is still adapting to his SF-25 F1 car and has thus not secured even a single podium finish this season.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That was a true blindside, so 'numbers don't lie but people do' is absolutely true.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Another smaller part lies at the very top.
    The Athletic NHL, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The event is inspired by a local legend about a great turtle forming the island long ago and celebrates the enduring nature of Mackinac Island during the quiet winter season.
    Carol Cain, Freep.com, 27 Sep. 2025
  • That usually meant going to taverns and bars, and enduring long travel days by horse and buggy.
    Ayana Archie, NPR, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Sarah and Chris Cooper, innkeepers of the Margin Street Inn, explained the balance of life in a town where global celebrity meets generations of tradition.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Hop on a train ride, meet cute animals at a petting zoo, play games and create crafts.
    Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stand. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on stand

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!