withstand

American  

[with-stand, with-] / wɪθˈstænd, wɪð- /

verb (used with object)

withstood, withstanding

1. to stand or hold out against; resist or oppose, especially successfully: to withstand the invaders;

   to withstand rust;

   to withstand the invaders;

   to withstand temptation.

   Synonyms:

   face, confront

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verb (used without object)

withstood, withstanding

1. to stand in opposition; resist.

withstand British  

/ wɪðˈstænd /

verb

1. (tr) to stand up to forcefully; resist

2. (intr) to remain firm in endurance or opposition

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Related Words

See oppose.

Other Word Forms

• unwithstanding adjective
• unwithstood adjective
• withstander noun
• withstandingness noun

Etymology

Origin of withstand

First recorded before 900; Middle English withstanden, Old English withstandan ( with-, stand ); cognate with Old Norse vithstanda; akin to German widerstehen

Example Sentences

There are reasons to think the labor market can withstand this hit like the others before.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Until now, fracture has been considered a property of elasticity, which is a material's ability to store and withstand stress.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

The bunker was strong enough to withstand that, so it can hold it within and collapse upon itself.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Not everyone thinks Intel can withstand the growing competition in the data center CPU market, regardless of the strong demand.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

By August 2009 the president of Goldman Sachs, Gary Cohn, even claimed, publicly, that Goldman Sachs had never actually needed government help, as Goldman had been strong enough to withstand any temporary panic.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• combat
• cope
• defy
• repel
• resist
• ride out
• suffer
• thwart
• tolerate
• weather