withstand
Americanverb (used with object)
-
withstands,
present (3rd person singular)
-
withstood,
past participle, past
-
withstanding
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
withstands,
present (3rd person singular)
-
withstood,
past participle, past
-
withstanding
present participle
verb
-
(tr) to stand up to forcefully; resist
-
(intr) to remain firm in endurance or opposition
Synonym Usage
See oppose.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
withstandsimple
-
withstandssimple
-
have withstoodperfect
-
has withstoodperfect
-
am withstandingprogressive
-
are withstandingprogressive
-
is withstandingprogressive
-
have been withstandingperfect progressive
-
has been withstandingperfect progressive
Past
-
withstoodsimple
-
had withstoodperfect
-
was withstandingprogressive
-
were withstandingprogressive
-
had been withstandingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of withstand
First recorded before 900; Middle English withstanden, Old English withstandan ( see with-, stand); cognate with Old Norse vithstanda; akin to German widerstehen
Explanation
In the story of the three little pigs, only the house made of brick was able to withstand the huffing and puffing of the Big Bad Wolf. To withstand is to hold up against something strong. Withstand means to stand your ground against a powerful and negative force. A lot of toys can withstand rough treatment, but CDs definitely can't. And hopefully, you can withstand the pressures of school and work! If you can withstand a lot of criticism, it means you can take it without giving up.
Vocabulary lists containing withstand
Unit 1: Telling Details
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT words Beginning with W,X,Y, and Z
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Beowulf vocabulary
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Previous research in this area has used a measurement called wet-bulb temperature, which incorporates humidity to estimate how much heat a human body can withstand.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
The material is relatively weak and may degrade too quickly, which can limit its usefulness when repairing bones that need to bear weight or withstand force.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026
Still, it’s always worth asking whether your portfolio could withstand a prolonged bear market without affecting your peace of mind.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 8, 2026
Asked if the new orders would withstand judicial scrutiny, Trump predicted they would, before directing the question to White House staff secretary Will Scharf.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
One of these is certainly their staunch ability to withstand disaster and to let the stream of their life carry them along, past reaches of terror and loss.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
We have only one path forward: build a more capable American open-weight alternative that withstands attempted jailbreaks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Carpenter offers many advantages to investors seeking companies whose competitive barriers to entry are as resistant as its nickel-based alloy Pyromet 41 External link —which withstands temperatures as high as 1500 degrees Fahrenheit.
From Barron's ● May 21, 2026
Vanguard released a follow-up report on Wednesday on “How America withstands financial hardships” that takes a deep dive behind the headlines.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 12, 2026
In the days ahead, we'll see if that withstands closer scrutiny.
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2025
“Nothing withstands the onslaught of an angry Fflam!”
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
This year’s stock rally has already withstood inflation, war and eye-watering AI budgets, but investors may be reaching their limit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
As for the status of the anti-unitarian precedent of Humphrey’s, the court claimed its logic has “not withstood the test of time” and had been effectively undermined for decades.
From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2026
Slaughter, the majority opinion said the “Humphrey’s framework has not withstood the test of time” and the court therefore overrules it.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
The imposing grain silos at Beirut’s port mostly withstood last year’s massive explosion — but now serve as reminders of negligence and destruction.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
Despite her common sense, which had withstood more than twenty years’ worth of the three-legged table and her mother’s prognostications, she was trembling as she crossed the threshold of the darkroom.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
"This project is designed to update those protective features to ensure that they are capable of withstanding modern weaponry like drones."
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
Critical to withstanding pressure from the Middle East war is a long-term push by Beijing to ensure energy security, which experts say is now bearing fruit.
From Barron's ● Apr. 14, 2026
The Ukrainian president is the same as ever—steadfast, with a nervous system that seems fireproof and capable of withstanding anything.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026
"They are just bloody-minded," the envoy said, and pointed to Ukraine's long history of withstanding hardship.
From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2025
We’re leaping over gigantic roots, sidestepping trees, sliding under low branches, and withstanding the wind … all while laughing.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
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.
