as in flies
to withstand scrutiny and gain acceptance or approval
a hypothesis that won't stand up to close analysis
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Recent Examples of stands up
The juicy dark meat stands up to the creaminess of the sauce.
—
Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2026
Flowering in vibrant red, purple, or pink blooms (depending on the species), beebalm stands up to four feet tall, making a statement at the back of beds and borders.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
In front of a large crowd, the rapper stands up before launching into a song.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Ivan Reitman One of the most beloved movies of all time, the original Ghostbusters still stands up as the best in the series … by far.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2026
Elphaba stands up against the corrupt Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) while the frenemies evolve their relationship and sing a lot in an unexpectedly relevant fantasy flick about standing up for what’s right.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
After a minute, Sarah stands up, red-faced.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Equipped with an anti-theft ReturnMe tag, chair-lock loop, and RFID protection, this ergonomic travel bag stands up to sneaky pickpockets.
—Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
The paddles seem to really make a difference in aeration to get foam that stands up.
—Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2026
Flowering in vibrant red, purple, or pink blooms (depending on the species), beebalm stands up to four feet tall, making a statement at the back of beds and borders.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
In front of a large crowd, the rapper stands up before launching into a song.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Ivan Reitman One of the most beloved movies of all time, the original Ghostbusters still stands up as the best in the series … by far.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2026
Elphaba stands up against the corrupt Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) while the frenemies evolve their relationship and sing a lot in an unexpectedly relevant fantasy flick about standing up for what’s right.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
After a minute, Sarah stands up, red-faced.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Equipped with an anti-theft ReturnMe tag, chair-lock loop, and RFID protection, this ergonomic travel bag stands up to sneaky pickpockets.
—Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
The paddles seem to really make a difference in aeration to get foam that stands up.
—Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stands up
Verb
-
The drone flies to your home, usually in about four and a half minutes.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
-
The route makes 18 nonstop flights that Alaska will operate in Boise, well ahead of Southwest Airlines, which flies to 10 cities nonstop.—
Kevin Fixler
May 8,
Idaho Statesman,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Traffic can make crossing the city slow at times, but the location works well for travelers planning to explore both the pyramids and the central districts.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
-
This button-down shirt is well-suited for officewear thanks to its pinstripe design — a polished take on the trend that works with everything from slacks to midi skirts.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
It’s prized for sculpting a high-definition lip that holds up under the harshest red-carpet lighting.—
Micaela English,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Parking, Passes and the Resort Math Standard parking is $25 per day for a regular-sized car, and the lot holds up to 10,000 cars.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stands up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stands%20up. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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