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
Many detainees with valid or pending legal claims simply couldn’t stand to be held there any longer. Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 13 July 2026 Laura’s husband lay on the bed as the rival stood next to it, expectant. Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
Noun
What started as a single stand has grown into a national chain, now with four locations in our area alone. Tristan Graziano, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 2026 Magnolia Bakery sells brownies and blondies from a stand inside the park. Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for stand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stand
Verb
  • Greenstein’s brother and sister conducted the ceremony, and at the reception, everyone sat at tables named for Italian directors and feasted on dishes like linguine with baby squid and soused trout by chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo.
    Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
  • Of more pressing concern is the man who now sits atop the Rangers’ pay structure, sharp-shooting wing and former Vegas Golden Knight Pavel Dorofeyev, who signed a seven-year deal which carries an average annual value of $11 million.
    Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • The Democratic Party, less than four months from a pivotal midterm election, is navigating a new kind of culture war over exactly what kind of behavior — from candidates and staff — the party should tolerate.
    Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 15 July 2026
  • Engineers also incorporated seismic protection features that allow the bridge to better tolerate ground movement, an essential requirement in one of the world’s most seismically active regions.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • Lucas said each year the City Council allocates more than 25% of its annual operating revenue to fund the Police Department, yet the agency struggles each year with paying legal settlements.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
  • But if your paperwork is approved and your interview is completed, and your fees are paid, congratulations!
    Josie Fischels, NPR, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • Given Nolan’s famous aversion to AI, there was a relief in knowing this incredible display of creativity came primarily from practical effects and shooting on location.
    Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • There was no other contestant other than Burnham, who comfortably surpassed that threshold.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • That approach has been shaped by decades inside Olympic volleyball, where the difference between standing atop the podium and watching another nation celebrate is frequently measured by only a handful of points.
    Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Below the speaker’s podium sat a row of bored-looking representatives from city, county and regional agencies.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • The port lies near the historic village of Tis, where archaeological remains date back to at least 2500 BCE.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Cary, torn between his own desires and others’ expectations, can’t seem to determine where his loyalties lie.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • But for many Georgians who volunteered, worked, performed or attended the Games, the memories that have endured are far more personal.
    Andrea Clement, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
  • Iran’s hardline regime achieves a victory of sorts simply by enduring and surviving.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Clemente, the radar systems professor, noted that Ukrainian industry has become extremely agile to meet evolving threats.
    Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • For the religious right, churches have long been a place where politics meet ideological beliefs.
    Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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