as in keeps (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 stands by
In the background, a man stands by, carrying tissues for Itsaragrisil.
—
Staff Author, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Yet, Heneghan stands by the early-career design that she — and her firm — may always be best known for.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
The White House flat out denied that report, though TMZ stands by it.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Morgan Stanley stands by overweight rating and $1,500 price target Analyst Benjamin Swinburne’s price target implies upside of 21%.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2025
Swift stands by The Life of a Showgirl, and said that conversations about its lasting resonance complement the record's core ideas.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
In a particularly poignant moment in the film, Jiang stands by the window at night and pretends to capture and punch the shadow of a security guard downstairs.
—Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
An armed law enforcement officer stands by as people (R) arrive for the public memorial service for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on September 21, 2025.
—Amanda Castro
mandy Taheri
peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Vikander, whose father is a psychiatrist in Sweden who advises on gender confirmation surgery, stands by it.
—Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 19 Aug. 2025
Staff Author, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Yet, Heneghan stands by the early-career design that she — and her firm — may always be best known for.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
The White House flat out denied that report, though TMZ stands by it.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
Morgan Stanley stands by overweight rating and $1,500 price target Analyst Benjamin Swinburne’s price target implies upside of 21%.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2025
Swift stands by The Life of a Showgirl, and said that conversations about its lasting resonance complement the record's core ideas.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025
In a particularly poignant moment in the film, Jiang stands by the window at night and pretends to capture and punch the shadow of a security guard downstairs.
—Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
An armed law enforcement officer stands by as people (R) arrive for the public memorial service for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on September 21, 2025.
—Amanda Castro
mandy Taheri
peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Vikander, whose father is a psychiatrist in Sweden who advises on gender confirmation surgery, stands by it.
—Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stands by
defends
Verb
-
Reyes defends pay, confirms residency During the meeting, CBS News Miami asked about the nearly half-million-dollar salary attached to the position.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Because the anti-Trump side defends the rule of law, it can be drawn into legalistic objections that sound pettifogging and irrelevant.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stands by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stands%20by. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share