stand for
Britishverb
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to represent or mean
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to be or become a candidate for
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to support or recommend
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informal to tolerate or bear
he won't stand for any disobedience
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Represent, symbolize, as in The stars and stripes stands for our country . [Early 1600s]
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Advocate, support, uphold, as in The National Writers Union stands for freedom of the press . [c. 1300] Also see stand up for .
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Put up with, tolerate. This usage is generally in a negative context, as in Mother will not stand for rude behavior . [Late 1800s] Also see hold still for .
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stand for something . Have some value or importance, as in She realized that appearances do stand for something . This usage dates from the mid-1800s but was preceded by stand for nothing , meaning “be worthless,” dating from the late 1300s. Also see stand in for .
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.
From Manchester mayor to prime minister; what is his record and what does he stand for?
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
“You have to be strong, you have to be patient and you have to stand for something.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
It would be a stand for decency and normalcy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026
Former Defence Minister Al Carns has said he will not stand for the Labour leadership and urged his party to get behind Andy Burnham.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
By then Luke was sitting up, and a week later, when the first cold spell hit, he could stand for a minute or two on crutches.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
