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.
Corona Garza struggles to stand for long periods of time and can’t see very well out of her left eye.
From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026
Those points might represent cities, PCs, subway stations, or organs, while the connections could stand for highways, cables, railway lines, or blood vessels.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026
Someone who goes with what will help them and doesn’t stand for anything but themselves.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
And far-right Senator Pauline Hanson said "violence against any elected representative, whoever they are and whatever they stand for, is never acceptable in Australia".
From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026
His mother tried to wean him when he was nine months old but Gussie wouldn’t stand for it.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
