as in keeping (to)
to give steadfast support to
no matter how much people object, I will stand by my decision
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Chicago Fire Department Deputy District Chief Jason Lach said members of the CFD dive team would be standing by the whole time in dry suits with extra thermal layers.
—
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
But the oil market is not as fragile as the headlines suggest, and OPEC+ is not standing by while the world burns.
—Wael Mahdi, semafor.com, 1 Mar. 2026
After month of standing by Ruemmler, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon accepted his general counsel’s resignation last week.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
The portrait of the Prince and the trafficking victim—his hand on her waist; her heartbreaking smile—with Maxwell, the human factor, standing by, will always be the defining image of the Royal Family’s involvement in the Epstein case.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
Holiday Inn Express is also standing by the free breakfast bar.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
The depiction of female shopkeepers and mothers, punctuated by women like me standing by concrete building blocks, underscores our importance as memory keepers within a society that has often needed rebuilding.
—Lara N. Dotson-Renta, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Marc Anthony is standing by his friends David and Victoria Beckham, amid the drama with their son Brooklyn.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
Even amid the latest scandal surrounding their parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, following the most recent tranche of the Epstein files, a new report indicates that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are still standing by their father and mother.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 9 Feb. 2026
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
But the oil market is not as fragile as the headlines suggest, and OPEC+ is not standing by while the world burns.
—Wael Mahdi, semafor.com, 1 Mar. 2026
After month of standing by Ruemmler, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon accepted his general counsel’s resignation last week.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
The portrait of the Prince and the trafficking victim—his hand on her waist; her heartbreaking smile—with Maxwell, the human factor, standing by, will always be the defining image of the Royal Family’s involvement in the Epstein case.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
Holiday Inn Express is also standing by the free breakfast bar.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
The depiction of female shopkeepers and mothers, punctuated by women like me standing by concrete building blocks, underscores our importance as memory keepers within a society that has often needed rebuilding.
—Lara N. Dotson-Renta, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Marc Anthony is standing by his friends David and Victoria Beckham, amid the drama with their son Brooklyn.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
Even amid the latest scandal surrounding their parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, following the most recent tranche of the Epstein files, a new report indicates that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are still standing by their father and mother.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for standing by
defending
Verb
-
The Celtics went cold as the half wound down, scoring just five points in the final six minutes, and had trouble defending the full-speed Antetokounmpo drives that made up most of Milwaukee’s offense.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Comedian Funches spent numerous episodes defending his honor as a faithful, as the other players nit-picked his actions and reserved demeanor.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Standing by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/standing%20by. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
