stand up for definition | Dictionary.com

stand

[stand]

,
verb, stood, stand⋅ing, noun, plural stands for 28–48, stands, stand for 49.

–verb (used without object)

1.	(of a person) to be in an upright position on the feet.

2.	to rise to one's feet (often fol. by up).

3.	to have a specified height when in this position: a basketball player who stands six feet seven inches.

4.	to stop or remain motionless or steady on the feet.

5.	to take a position or place as indicated: to stand aside.

6.	to remain firm or steadfast, as in a cause.

7.	to take up or maintain a position or attitude with respect to a person, issue, or the like: to stand as sponsor for a person.

8.	to have or adopt a certain policy, course, or attitude, as of adherence, support, opposition, or resistance: He stands for free trade.

9.	(of things) to be in an upright or vertical position, be set on end, or rest on or as on a support.

10.	to be set, placed, fixed, located, or situated: The building stands at 34th Street and 5th Avenue.

11.	(of an account, score, etc.) to show, be, or remain as indicated; show the specified position of the parties concerned: The score stood 18 to 14 at the half.

12.	to remain erect or whole; resist change, decay, or destruction (often fol. by up): The ruins still stand. The old building stood up well.

13.	to continue in force or remain valid: The agreement stands as signed.

14.	to remain still, stationary, or unused: The bicycle stood in the basement all winter.

15.	to be or become stagnant, as water.

16.	(of persons or things) to be or remain in a specified state, condition, relation, relative position, etc.: He stood in jeopardy of losing his license.

17.	to have the possibility or likelihood: He stands to gain a sizable profit through the sale of the house.

18.	Chiefly British. to become or be a candidate, as for public office (usually fol. by for).

19.

Nautical.

a.	to take or hold a particular course at sea.

b.	to move in a certain direction: to stand offshore.

20.	(of a male domestic animal, esp. a stud) to be available as a sire, usually for a fee: Three Derby winners are now standing in Kentucky.

–verb (used with object)

21.	to cause to stand; set upright; set: Stand the chair by the lamp.

22.	to face or encounter: to stand an assault.

23.	to undergo or submit to: to stand trial.

24.	to endure or undergo without harm or damage or without giving way: His eyes are strong enough to stand the glare.

25.	to endure or tolerate: She can't stand her father.

26.	to treat or pay for: I'll stand you to a drink when the manuscript is in.

27.	to perform the duty of or participate in as part of one's job or duty: to stand watch aboard ship.

–noun

28.	the act of standing; an assuming of or a remaining in an upright position.

29.	a cessation of motion; halt or stop.

30.	a determined effort for or against something, esp. a final defensive effort: Custer's last stand.

31.	a determined policy, position, attitude, etc., taken or maintained: We must take a stand on political issues.

32.	the place in which a person or thing stands; station.

33.	witness stand.

34.	a raised platform, as for a speaker, a band, or the like.

35.	stands, a raised section of seats for spectators; grandstand.

36.	a framework on or in which articles are placed for support, exhibition, etc.: a hat stand.

37.	a piece of furniture of various forms, on or in which to put articles (often used in combination): a nightstand; a washstand.

38.	a small, light table.

39.	a stall, booth, counter, or the like, where articles are displayed for sale or where some business is carried on: a fruit stand.

40.	newsstand: The papers usually hit the stands at 5 a.m.

41.	a site or location for business: After 20 years the ice-cream vendor was still at the same stand.

42.	a place or station occupied by vehicles available for hire: a taxicab stand.

43.	the vehicles occupying such a place.

44.	the growing trees, or those of a particular species or grade, in a given area.

45.	a standing growth, as of grass, wheat, etc.

46.	a halt of a theatrical company on tour, to give a performance or performances: a series of one-night stands on the strawhat trail.

47.	the town at which a touring theatrical company gives a performance.

48.	hive (def. 2).

49.	Metalworking. a rolling unit in a rolling mill.

50.	Chiefly British. a complete set of arms or accoutrements for one soldier.

—Verb phrases

51.

stand by,

a.	to uphold; support: She stood by him whenever he was in trouble.

b.	to adhere to (an agreement, promise, etc.); affirm: She stood by her decision despite her sister's arguments.

c.	to stand ready; wait: Please stand by while I fix this antenna.

d.	to get ready to speak, act, etc., as at the beginning of a radio or television program.

e.	to be ready to board a plane, train, or other transport if accommodations become available at the last minute.

52.

stand down,

a.	Law. to leave the witness stand.

b.	to step aside; withdraw, as from a competition: I agreed to stand down so that she could run for the nomination unopposed.

c.	to leave or take out of active work or service: to stand down some of the ships in the fleet.

53.

stand for,

a.	to represent; symbolize: P.S. stands for “postscript.”

b.	to advocate; favor: He stands for both freedom and justice.

c.	Informal. to tolerate; allow: I won't stand for any nonsense!

54.

stand in with,

a.	to be in association or conspiracy with.

b.	to enjoy the favor of; be on friendly terms with.

55.

stand off,

a.	to keep or stay at a distance.

b.	to put off; evade.

56.

stand on,

a.	to depend on; rest on: The case stands on his testimony.

b.	to be particular about; demand: to stand on ceremony.

c.	Nautical. to maintain a course and speed.

57.

stand out,

a.	to project; protrude: The piers stand out from the harbor wall.

b.	to be conspicuous or prominent: She stands out in a crowd.

c.	to persist in opposition or resistance; be inflexible.

d.	Nautical. to maintain a course away from shore.

58.

stand over,

a.	to supervise very closely; watch constantly: He won't work unless someone stands over him.

b.	to put aside temporarily; postpone: to let a project stand over until the following year.

59.

stand to,

a.	to continue to hold; persist in: to stand to one's statement.

b.	to keep at steadily: Stand to your rowing, men!

c.	to wait in readiness; stand by: Stand to for action.

60.

stand up,

a.	to come to or remain in a standing position: to stand up when being introduced.

b.	to remain strong, convincing, or durable: The case will never stand up in court. Wool stands up better than silk.

c.	Slang. to fail to keep an appointment with (someone, esp. a sweetheart or date): I waited for Kim for an hour before I realized I'd been stood up.

61.

stand up for,

a.	to defend the cause of; support: No one could understand why he stood up for an incorrigible criminal.

b.	to serve a bridegroom or bride, as best man or maid (matron) of honor.

62.	stand up to, to meet or deal with fearlessly; confront: to stand up to a bully.

—Idioms

63.	stand a chance or show, to have a chance or possibility, esp. of winning or surviving: He's a good shortstop but doesn't stand a chance of making the major leagues because he can't hit.

64.	stand pat. pat ² (def. 6).

65.	stand to reason. reason (def. 18).

66.	take the stand, to testify in a courtroom.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME standen (v.), OE standan; c. OS standan, MD standen, OHG stantan, standa, standan; akin to L stāre to stand, sistere, Gk histánai to make stand, Skt sthā to stand, OIr at-tá (he) is

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source

Language Translation for : stand up for

Italian:

sostenere, (prendere le parti di),

German:

eintreten für,

Japanese:

～を守る

View 29 other languages »

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stand   (stānd) Pronunciation Key
v.   stood (stŏŏd), stand·ing, stands

v.   intr.

1. To rise to an upright position on the feet.
2. To assume or maintain an upright position as specified: stand straight; stand to one side.
3. To maintain an upright position on the feet.
4. To maintain an upright or vertical position on a base or support: The urn stands on a pedestal.
5. To be placed or situated: The building stands at the corner.
6. To remain stable, upright, or intact: The old school still stands.
7. To remain valid, effective, or unaltered: The agreement stands.
8. To be in a specified state or condition: I stand corrected. We stand in awe of the view.
9. To exist in a particular form: Send the message as it now stands.
10. To come to a stop; remain motionless.
11. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.
1. To maintain an upright position on the feet.
2. To maintain an upright or vertical position on a base or support: The urn stands on a pedestal.
3. To be placed or situated: The building stands at the corner.
4. To remain stable, upright, or intact: The old school still stands.
5. To remain valid, effective, or unaltered: The agreement stands.
6. To be in a specified state or condition: I stand corrected. We stand in awe of the view.
7. To exist in a particular form: Send the message as it now stands.
8. To come to a stop; remain motionless.
9. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.
1. To remain stable, upright, or intact: The old school still stands.
2. To remain valid, effective, or unaltered: The agreement stands.
3. To be in a specified state or condition: I stand corrected. We stand in awe of the view.
4. To exist in a particular form: Send the message as it now stands.
5. To come to a stop; remain motionless.
6. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.
To be or show a specified figure or amount: The balance stands at $500.
To measure a specified height when in an upright position: stands six feet tall.
To take up or maintain a specified position, altitude, or course: He stands on his earlier offer. We will stand firm.
To be in a position of possible gain or loss: She stands to make a fortune.
1. To be in a specified state or condition: I stand corrected. We stand in awe of the view.
2. To exist in a particular form: Send the message as it now stands.
3. To come to a stop; remain motionless.
4. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.
To be at a specified level on or as if on a scale: stands third in her class; stands high in reputation.
1. To come to a stop; remain motionless.
2. To remain stationary or inactive: The car stood in the garage all winter.
To remain without flowing or being disturbed; be or become stagnant.
Nautical To take or hold a particular course or direction: a ship standing to windward.
To be available as a sire. Used of horses.
Chiefly British To be a candidate for public office.

v. tr.

To cause to stand; place upright.
To engage in or encounter: stand battle.
1. To resist successfully; withstand: stand the test of time; will not stand close examination.
2. To put up with patiently or resolutely; bear: can't stand the heat. See Synonyms at bear¹.
To submit to or undergo: stand trial.
To tolerate and benefit from: I could stand a good night's sleep.
To perform the duty of: stand guard.
Informal To treat (someone) or pay the cost of (food or drink): She stood him to a drink. We'll stand dinner.

The act of standing.
A ceasing of work or activity; a standstill or halt.
A stop on a performance tour.
The place or station where a person stands.
A booth, stall, or counter for the display of goods for sale.
A parking space reserved for taxis.
A desperate or decisive effort at defense or resistance, as in a battle: made their stand at the river.
A position or opinion one is prepared to uphold: must take a stand on environmental issues.
stands The bleachers at a playing field or stadium.
Law A witness stand.
A small rack, prop, or table for holding any of various articles: a music stand; a bedside stand.
A group or growth of tall plants or trees: a stand of pine.
To be ready or available to act.
To wait for something, such as a broadcast, to resume.
To remain uninvolved; refrain from acting: stood by and let him get away.
To remain loyal to; aid or support: stands by her friends.
To keep or maintain: stood by her decision.
Law To leave a witness stand.
To withdraw, as from a political contest.
To end a state of readiness or alert.
To go off duty.
To represent; symbolize.
To advocate or support: stands for freedom of the press.
To put up with; tolerate: We will not stand for impertinent behavior.
To stay at a distance; remain apart or aloof.
To put off; evade.
Nautical To maintain a course away from shore.
To be based on; depend on: The success of the project stands on management's support of it.
To insist on observance of: stand on ceremony; stand on one's rights.
To protrude; project.
To be conspicuous, distinctive, or prominent.
To refuse compliance or maintain opposition; hold out: stand out against a verdict.
Nautical To maintain a course away from shore.
To watch or supervise closely.
To hold over; postpone.
To remain valid, sound, or durable: His claim will not stand up in court. Our old car has stood up well over time.
Informal To fail to keep a date with.

Phrasal Verb(s):
stand by

To be ready or available to act.
To wait for something, such as a broadcast, to resume.
To remain uninvolved; refrain from acting: stood by and let him get away.
To remain loyal to; aid or support: stands by her friends.
To keep or maintain: stood by her decision.

stand down

Law To leave a witness stand.
To withdraw, as from a political contest.
To end a state of readiness or alert.
To go off duty.

stand for

To represent; symbolize.
To advocate or support: stands for freedom of the press.
To put up with; tolerate: We will not stand for impertinent behavior.

stand in To act as a stand-in.
stand off

To stay at a distance; remain apart or aloof.
To put off; evade.
Nautical To maintain a course away from shore.

stand on

To be based on; depend on: The success of the project stands on management's support of it.
To insist on observance of: stand on ceremony; stand on one's rights.

stand out

To protrude; project.
To be conspicuous, distinctive, or prominent.
To refuse compliance or maintain opposition; hold out: stand out against a verdict.
Nautical To maintain a course away from shore.

stand over

To watch or supervise closely.
To hold over; postpone.

stand to To take up positions for action.
stand up

To remain valid, sound, or durable: His claim will not stand up in court. Our old car has stood up well over time.
Informal To fail to keep a date with.

Idiom(s):
stand a chance To have a chance, as of gaining or accomplishing something.

Idiom(s):
stand (one's) ground

To maintain one's position against an attack.
To refuse to compromise; be unyielding.

Idiom(s):
stand on (one's) own/two feet To be independent and responsible for oneself.

Idiom(s):
stand pat

To oppose or resist change.
Games To play one's poker hand without drawing more cards.

Idiom(s):
stand to reason To be consistent with reason: It stands to reason that if we leave late, we will arrive late.

Idiom(s):
stand up for

To side with; defend.
To stand up with.

Idiom(s):
stand up to To confront fearlessly; face up to.

Idiom(s):
stand up with To act as best man or maid of honor for (the groom or bride) at a wedding.

[Middle English standen, from Old English standan; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
stand'er n.

stand up for

Also, stick up for. Side with, defend, as in Paul always stands up for what he thinks is right, or Ginny has learned to stick up for her family. The first recorded use of the first term is by Shakespeare in King Lear (1:2), when Edmund, Gloucester's bastard son, says: "Now gods, stand up for bastards!" The colloquial variant was first recorded in 1837.