as in kept (to)
to give steadfast support to
no matter how much people object, I will stand by my decision
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Recent Examples of stood by
The investment firm stood by its buy rating on the software analytics company.
—
Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2026
The two introduced musical guest Mumford and Sons’ first number together, and Williams stood by his man at the final goodbyes, but Saturday’s SNL was assuredly all about Storrie, not Heated Rivalry, and not Williams.
—Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 1 Mar. 2026
The Patriots stood by Barmore throughout this, playing him for all 17 regular-season contests and four playoff games.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Frances stood by her dad wearing a canary yellow sundress dress printed with bright orange flowers and a white lei slung around her neck.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
Units from the Mexican army and the National Guard established a ground cordon, while six helicopters and additional special forces stood by in states bordering Jalisco.
—María Verza, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026
Last summer, Russia stood by powerlessly as US and Israeli war planes struck Iran, another key Russian Kremlin partner in the Middle East, targeting its nuclear facilities.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
This 'Hannahversary' is my way of celebrating and thanking the fans who've stood by me for 20 years.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Even when Mina-sue chose to pursue Seung-il, or when she was confronted by Su-been for her confusing choices, Sung-hun stood by her side through thick and thin.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 10 Feb. 2026
Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2026
The two introduced musical guest Mumford and Sons’ first number together, and Williams stood by his man at the final goodbyes, but Saturday’s SNL was assuredly all about Storrie, not Heated Rivalry, and not Williams.
—Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 1 Mar. 2026
The Patriots stood by Barmore throughout this, playing him for all 17 regular-season contests and four playoff games.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 26 Feb. 2026
Frances stood by her dad wearing a canary yellow sundress dress printed with bright orange flowers and a white lei slung around her neck.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
Units from the Mexican army and the National Guard established a ground cordon, while six helicopters and additional special forces stood by in states bordering Jalisco.
—María Verza, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026
Last summer, Russia stood by powerlessly as US and Israeli war planes struck Iran, another key Russian Kremlin partner in the Middle East, targeting its nuclear facilities.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
This 'Hannahversary' is my way of celebrating and thanking the fans who've stood by me for 20 years.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Even when Mina-sue chose to pursue Seung-il, or when she was confronted by Su-been for her confusing choices, Sung-hun stood by her side through thick and thin.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stood by
defended
Verb
-
Perhaps no voice within MAGA has defended the president and the Iran strikes more aggressively than Laura Loomer, the far-right activist who, while having her own history of criticizing the administration, has become the movement's most visible counterweight to the growing dissent.—
Will Steakin,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Following his Oscars victory, the filmmaker defended using the slur in the press room at the awards ceremony.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stood by.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stood%20by. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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