Definitions

stand by

Part of Speech:

All (15) Verb (14) Noun (1)

Jump To:

adhere v.
back up v.
befriend v.
defend v.
go to bat for v.
help v.
maintain v.
recommend v.
second v.
sit tight v.
sustain v.
swear by v.
uphold v.
wait v.
standby n.

VERB

adhere

Synonyms

STRONGEST

comply heed obey observe

STRONG

follow fulfill keep maintain mind practice respect support

WEAK

abide by be attached be constant be devoted be devoted to be faithful be loyal be true cleave to

Antonyms

STRONGEST

disobey ignore overlook

STRONG

condemn disregard forget let go neglect release scorn

WEAK

disjoin loose loosen not conform separate unfasten

VERB

back up

Synonyms

WEAK

advance back champion confirm encourage help lend support promote pull for stand behind

Antonyms

WEAK

continue defend pursue

VERB

befriend

Synonyms

STRONGEST

take up with

STRONG

encourage friend welcome

WEAK

buddy up get chummy with get in with hit it off side with take under one's wing

Antonyms

STRONG

block discourage dissuade harm hinder hurt injure obstruct stop thwart unfriend

WEAK

ignore neglect

VERB

defend

Synonyms

STRONGEST

advocate argue assert back champion endorse explain guarantee justify maintain support uphold

STRONG

aid befriend espouse exculpate exonerate plead rationalize recommend second stonewall sustain vindicate warrant

WEAK

apologize for back up bear one out come to defense of cover for go to bat for prove a case put in a good word ride shotgun for say in defense speak up for stand up for stick up for thump for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

oppose protest reject

STRONG

accuse blame condemn

WEAK

abandon attack deny forsake relinquish renounce

VERB

go to bat for

Synonyms

WEAK

back up cover for defend endorse go to the wall for recommend stand behind stand up for stick up for support

VERB

help

Synonyms

STRONGEST

back benefit bolster boost cooperate encourage further maintain promote push save serve stimulate support

STRONG

abet accommodate advocate ballyhoo befriend cheer endorse hype intercede patronize plug prop puff relieve sanction second succor sustain uphold

WEAK

be of use buck up do a favor do a service do one's part go to bat for go with lend a hand open doors root for see through stick up for stump for take under one's wing work for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

block condemn delay depress discourage dissuade halt harm hinder hurt impede neglect obstruct prevent refuse stop undermine

STRONG

conceal disapprove frustrate hide ignore oppose protest

WEAK

check counteract decrease injure worsen

VERB

maintain

Synonyms

STRONGEST

advocate declare defend emphasize hold insist say stress uphold

STRONG

affirm allege asseverate attest aver avow back champion contend correct justify persist profess protest rectify report right state vindicate

WEAK

fight for plead for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abandon attack deny desert forget forsake quit

STRONG

conceal give up leave repudiate

WEAK

condemn discard ignore neglect

VERB

recommend

Synonyms

STRONGEST

advocate back confirm endorse favor justify praise prescribe propose suggest uphold urge

STRONG

acclaim advance applaud celebrate commend compliment counsel enjoin esteem eulogize exalt exhort extol glorify laud magnify plug prize sanction second steer value

WEAK

be all for be satisfied with front for go on record for hold up put forward put in a good word put on to speak highly of speak well of think highly of vouch for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

censure condemn deny discourage dissuade oppose protest reject

STRONG

blame castigate criticize debase decrease denounce disapprove dislike disregard hate humiliate insult mock refuse

VERB

second

Synonyms

STRONGEST

assist

STRONG

aid approve back encourage endorse forward further promote uphold

WEAK

back up give moral support go along with

Antonyms

STRONG

block cease disapprove discourage dissuade halt hinder hurt impede obstruct oppose protest reject stop

WEAK

move

VERB

sit tight

Synonyms

STRONGEST

stick around

WEAK

anticipate bide one's time cool it fill time hang around hang out hold on hold the phone keep your shirt on lie in wait lie low linger mark time put on hold stall stay put

VERB

sustain

Synonyms

STRONGEST

assist bolster buoy continue defend help nurse preserve save

STRONG

aid approve back bankroll bear befriend brace buttress carry comfort confirm convey endorse favor feed foster lug nourish nurture pack prolong prop protract ratify relieve supply support tote transfer transport uphold validate verify

WEAK

go for keep alive keep from falling keep going lend a hand provide for shore up stick up for

Antonyms

STRONGEST

harm hinder hurt obstruct stop

STRONG

abbreviate condemn contradict deny deprive disagree disapprove discourage disprove hold ignore injure invalidate keep let down let go maintain neglect oppose refuse reject shorten starve take trouble veto weaken

WEAK

abstain discontinue halt

VERB

swear by

Synonyms

WEAK

advocate back bank on be satisfied with believe in compliment depend on it endorse go on the record for have faith in plug praise put in a good word speak highly of speak well of suggest think highly of vouch for

VERB

uphold

Synonyms

STRONGEST

advocate confirm defend encourage endorse hold to justify promote side with vindicate

STRONG

aid assist back bolster boost brace buttress carry champion countenance elevate help hoist prop raise rear second sustain uplift upraise

WEAK

back up buoy up hold up one's end pick up shore up stick by stick up for take up upbear uprear

Antonyms

STRONGEST

attack deny oppose protest

STRONG

abandon block decrease depress destroy discourage drop fall halt hinder hurt injure lessen lower neglect obstruct prevent stop undermine

WEAK

weaken

VERB

wait

Synonyms

STRONGEST

await delay expect hang linger remain stay stick around watch

STRONG

abide anticipate bide dally foresee stall tarry

WEAK

bide one's time cool it fill time hang around hang onto your hat hang out hold back hold everything hold on hold the phone hole up keep shirt on lie in wait lie low look for look forward to mark time put on hold save it sit tight sit up for stay up for sweat it

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advance go hurry leave rush

STRONG

carry on move

WEAK

carry out do forge forward go ahead

NOUN

standby

Synonyms

STRONG

assistant backup deputy double fill in relief replacement reserve stalwart stand-by stand-in sub successor temp temporary understudy

WEAK

pinch-hitter recourse

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

stand by

Bad things happen when good people stand by and say nothing, even if they are trying to avoid rocking the boat, fear upsetting people or risk ruining a relationship.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

“All we wanted is that it wasn’t tied to any opera, to any imagery for any opera, but would just be an artwork that will stand by itself,” Martínez Celaya said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

"Are we simply to stand by and watch this spectacle that should shame us all?"

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

“When there’s setbacks like this, you just wanna stand by him as close as you can and into this next phase on this detour to getting back onto the field.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

“I was going to give orders that all cars should stand by for five a.m.”

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

stand by

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

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