Synonyms

stand up for

Idioms

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.

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.

And in those moments of conflict, the moments of change, Yasmin has to stand up for herself at some point, otherwise it’s too wet.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2026

They tried to stand up for multiracial democracy and the rule of law in the face of the state’s defiance.

From Slate • Jun. 3, 2026

As she accepted her award, on stage at London's Grosvenor House, she took the opportunity to stand up for more diverse songwriting voices.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

"The graffiti will be removed once the investigation is complete. With antisemitism on the rise here and across the globe, we will always stand up for our Jewish community and fight back against hate."

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

The Colonel laughed again, and I wondered why he wouldn’t stand up for his girlfriend.

From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

stand up for

Example Sentences

Related Words