Dictionary.com

withstand

[ with-stand, with- ]
/ wɪθˈstænd, wɪð- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR withstand ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), with·stood, with·stand·ing.

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

verb (used without object), with·stood, with·stand·ing.

to stand in opposition; resist.

QUIZZES

FOR LEXICAL ALIMENTATION, TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Nourish your vocabulary with a refresher on the words from the week of September 14–20, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “blatherskite” mean?
a person given to voluble, empty talk.
an ancient Greek or Roman farce that depended for effect largely upon ludicrous actions and gestures.
a check whose amount has been raised by forgery before cashing.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

synonym study for withstand

1. See oppose.

OTHER WORDS FROM withstand

with·stand·er, nounwith·stand·ing·ness, nounun·with·stand·ing, adjectiveun·with·stood, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to withstand

combat, repel, defy, cope, tolerate, resist, weather, thwart, suffer, hold off, ride out, buck, duel, brave, violate, stick, contest, confront, traverse, fight

Example sentences from the Web for withstand

British Dictionary definitions for withstand

withstand
/ (wɪðˈstænd) /

verb -stands, -standing or -stood

(tr) to stand up to forcefully; resist
(intr) to remain firm in endurance or opposition

Derived forms of withstand

withstander, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012