STAND BY Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

stand by 1 of 2

verb

Definition of stand by

as in to keep (to)

to give steadfast support to no matter how much people object, I will stand by my decision

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

standby

2 of 2

noun

ˈstan(d)-ˌbī

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

Three miles upstream, at the Riverview RV Park, Jason Fulcher, the Trotters and other campers stood by the river. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026 Singer stood by his ads and his position on stock trading by members of Congress. — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Noun

This old standby has been reinvigorated with new introductions that please on a number of levels. — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2026 Formulas packed with oils, butters, and skin-care standbys like hyaluronic acid are always helpful. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stand by

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stand by

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

Consistent with their hypothesis, the secretion signal helps transfer the enzyme out of the cell, while the lipid anchor holds it near the cell surface.

— Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
But despite this, they were still conceived of as being located within the mounds themselves, real-world anchors for these strange, marvelous realms.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 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

The language that’s known as the backbone of the internet is now subject to what experts describe as one of the most notable vulnerabilities in recent memory.

— Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Stocchetto’s son Maurizio, the current owner, marked the 50th anniversary with a light refurbishment but one that kept the vintage backbone intact, from the brocades and mirrors to the marble floor and dark wood panels.

— Jaclyn DeGiorgio, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of backbone

Verb

Its formula features Concentrated Miracle Broth, antioxidant-rich Lime Tea Concentrate, and Clarity Algae to help defend against free radicals and improve discoloration.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
President Bola Tinubu, who is seeking a second term in January, has repeatedly defended his decision to scrap a years-long subsidy program in 2023 to avoid wasteful spending and invest in infrastructure development.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of defend

Noun

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s launch of the spacecraft Tuesday on a new Japanese mainstay H-3 rocket comes as the United States, China and others consider sending astronauts to Mars.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Enter Katie Zacharia, a 42-year-old political commentator who was a mainstay on Fox News and who has repeatedly referred to herself as a lawyer, despite there reportedly being no evidence of her passing the bar in the United States.

— José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of mainstay

Noun

Kyiv's reliance on drones has made Starlink and Starshield nearly indispensable to its arsenal.

— Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Thus, no matter what really transpired with Starlink's suspension of service to Ukraine, Musk may now face customers diversifying away from total reliance on SpaceX as his ultimate reckoning.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of reliance

Noun

Innovation will always be an important pillar of the award, said Christiane Dolva, the philanthropic organization’s head of innovation, research and demonstration.

— Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Dedicated to the god Amun, it is known for its beautiful pillars and intricate carvings.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of pillar

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Style

“Stand by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stand%20by. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of stand by

verb

noun

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