stand 1 of 2

Definition of standnext
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
The Turquoise project, by contrast, is said to stand 239 feet high, as measured from the ground to the roof. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026 No federal agency is constitutionally permitted to function as a standing militia beyond judicial review, regardless of political objectives. Larry Pino, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
This is where the people make their stand. Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026 But as fans chant her name, forgoing halftime trips to concession stands and restrooms to watch her perform, Niu is filled with both gratitude and motivation. Alanis Thames, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stand
Verb
  • The restaurant has occupied the space for decades, sits steps from the ski lifts in Vail Village, and is a local favorite for skiers, tourists and locals alike.
    Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Video footage that circulated on social media shows the tourist lying motionless on the snowy ground, with the leopard sitting nearby.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Phase 1 human clinical trials showed it was well tolerated, and Bakshi says early results in Phase 2, which is focused on both safety and efficacy, are promising.
    Ana Castelain, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Bovino’s departure seemed an admission that Minnesotans aren’t the only Americans who won’t tolerate more deaths at the hands of federal agents.
    Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • In this Gothic fantasy debut, Leena Al-Sayer bargains her ability to see the dead in order to pay for the expensive medicine her brother Rami needs to live.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
  • The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the legislature should act on the report’s recommendations with actions to strengthen reporting, enforce existing laws, prevent further abandonment of wells and ensure polluters pay for cleanup.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • And there are signs that assumptions about men’s unwillingness to use such products are eroding.
    Ana Castelain, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
  • There are more of us than there will ever be of them.
    Katherine Packert Burke, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • But try extending that same indulgence to Olympic podiums and the Nobel Banquet Hall — in those arenas, the margins are razor-thin, and mastery demands long marination.
    Rachel Barr, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Omar was hosting a town hall event in North Minneapolis on Tuesday evening when a man in a black jacket rushed toward the podium and sprayed her with a liquid.
    Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Break up any big chunks of sugar and lay the bread slice on top, then seal it in an airtight container for about a day.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Velez then allegedly rifled through Rivera’s pockets and the vehicle before fleeing the scene, leaving his cousin lying unconscious in the middle of the street.
    Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • As tens of thousands of people endured nearly a week with no electricity, another storm loomed on the East Coast.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Jan. 2026
  • On Saturday, Connecticut was enduring glacial temperatures in the teens.
    Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • For Proust—who may have met Wilde and even been the subject of the older man’s amorous attention (though accounts of their meeting or meetings could be apocryphal)—his downfall showed that life featured far keener sorrows than those encountered in books.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
  • On January 19, CNN reported that Soltani was in good physical health and had been able to meet with his family, according to Hengaw and one of his relatives.
    Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 2 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stand. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

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