STANDING BY Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

standing by

verb

present participle of stand by

as in keeping (to)

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 standing by Teacher and counselor Ashley Williams was standing by while another employee copied the footage of Morrison berating, hitting and directing other students to assault the 13-year-old boy. — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 15 July 2026 Videos circulating on social media over the weekend showed residents confronting military personnel, accusing them of standing by while civilians carried out rescue operations with little official assistance. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026 Kroger Kroger shares are off more than 7% in 2026, but analyst Robert Ohmes is standing by the grocery chain. — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 27 June 2026 In many places, no one is standing by with a stopwatch to enforce the rule. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 26 June 2026 Wolfson pointed to a recent TikTok video that captured Pontius standing by the roadside in the aftermath of a car wreck. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 For Red Sox fans, Worthington’s passing serves as a reminder of a unique baseball figure whose career connected multiple historic franchises, a World Series championship, and a reputation for standing by his principles throughout a Hall of Fame-caliber baseball life. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 The judge who presided over the high-profile murder trial of Karmelo Anthony is standing by one of the case's most controversial decisions, saying keeping cameras out of the courtroom was necessary to ensure a fair trial. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026 No matter which way the wind blows, Morgan Wallen is standing by his decision. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for standing by

defending

Verb

And with Brown, VJ Edgecombe and Dean Wade on the roster, James would also be insulated from defending on the perimeter at a high volume.

— Tony Jones, New York Times, 14 July 2026
The defending champions made Kansas City their base camp for the tournament as the team began its quest to become back to back champions for the first time since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

— PJ Green July 13, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026