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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stand by
Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 12 June 2026
The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has people standing by 24/7 in English and in Spanish for text or voice calls at 988.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 12 June 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Rescue boats from the Romney and Springfield fire departments were used to transport everyone safely to a nearby cabin, while additional boats remained on standby in case conditions worsened or more assistance was needed.
—Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stand by
Verb
But it was immediately denied by judges, paving the way for the president's name to be removed from the building as a crowd of onlookers stood by to watch workers do the job.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 12 June 2026
The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has people standing by 24/7 in English and in Spanish for text or voice calls at 988.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 12 June 2026
Noun
Shiny black cars and mountain bikes are on standby to purr you down a three-mile country road to the Beach Club, where the mood is even more drowsy and low-key (though kids and alpha males will enjoy messing about with the paddleboards, windsurfers, and other non-motorised water-sports).
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Rescue boats from the Romney and Springfield fire departments were used to transport everyone safely to a nearby cabin, while additional boats remained on standby in case conditions worsened or more assistance was needed.
—Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for stand by
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stand by
Verb
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But Cape Verde simply did not wilt in a solid, switched-on 4-5-1 defensive shape, compressing space between the lines and defending heroically in their own penalty area to keep the European Champions at bay, and committing only one foul in the process — the fewest ever recorded in a World Cup game.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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That particularly could be annoying to Uruguay supporters, given Messi’s stature in the sport overall and in particular with defending champion Argentina, La Celeste’s biggest rival.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Soaring double-height ceilings anchor the entertaining spaces, with loft areas overlooking the living room.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
-
Dozens of VLCCs are sailing from the South China Sea and across the Indian Ocean toward the United Arab Emirates ports, where at least 30 ships were already at anchor, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward on Wednesday.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Reading people’s intentions and forming relationships is still the backbone of successful recruiting.—
Steven Johnson
June 16,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 June 2026
-
How did 42 Dugg-core Detroit drums end up as the backbone of Florida street rap?—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
It is said that a stack of books was a mainstay on his bedside table in the White House.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
-
Seehorn’s indelible portrayal of the cunning Kim Wexler transformed the character from one-off love interest to irreplaceable mainstay, and thus, a partnership was born.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
This low position is likely hindered by a reliance on offensive statistics that puts less value on Brind’Amour’s defensive abilities.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
Nobody is happier or safer or healthier for having higher prices at the pump, dirtier air, more reliance on volatile international energy imports or uncertain supply chains and the loss of thousands of jobs, among other things.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
The lifecycle pillar then operationalizes governance through requirements covering model selection, data quality, explainability, performance monitoring, human oversight, cybersecurity, and third-party risk.—
Mayra Rodriguez Valladares,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
When constructed, the stone circle was aligned with the sun, and to this day, thousands of people gather to witness the moment the sun peeks perfectly through its pillars.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stand by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stand%20by. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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