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
In the video, Jessie, who is wearing a blue bikini, puts one foot on her husband's thigh and the other on his shoulder, hooking it around his neck, and stands up steadily while flashing her arm muscles at the camera.
—
Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
Every generation stands up to serve.
—CBS News, 24 May 2026
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
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
Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
Every generation stands up to serve.
—CBS News, 24 May 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stands up
Verb
-
An Israeli flag flies over the medieval Beaufort Castle, known locally as Qalaat al-Shaqif or Shaqif Arnoun.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
-
The Air Force's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance squadron flies 10 Super Hercules aircraft out of Biloxi, Mississippi.—
Scott Withers,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The villa layout works great for families needing space.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Churning out lazy, uninspired movies no longer works, even if they're attached to a previously important brand name.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
That show really holds up, though.—
Marah Eakin,
Vulture,
28 May 2026
-
The high-strength nylon exterior is impressively durable, and the water-repellent coating holds up against rain, spills, and everyday wear.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stands up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stands%20up. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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