Phrase guide

stand by

verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˌstændˈbaɪ̯/ without æ-raising
  • [ˌstændˈbaɪ̯] without æ-raising
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Canada, US: /ˌsteə̯ndˈbaɪ̯/
  • Canada, US: /ˌstɛə̯ndˈbaɪ̯/
  • Australian: /ˌstɛːndˈbɑ̟ɪ̯/
  • Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To wait in expectation of some event; to be ready.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • Please stand by for more instructions.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hang on, stay, abide, back that train up, bide, bide one's time, expect, defer, hold on, hold one's breath, hold one's horses, hold one's water, hold out, mark time, stand by, twiddle one's thumbs, wait

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To remain loyal or faithful to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • Even though money is scarce sometimes, Ann stands by her decision to be a full-time mother.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: (UK, idiomatic) go to the wall for someone, keep faith, abide by, hold on, go to the wall for someone, stand by, stick by, stick with

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To support; to continue to support despite things being bad.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • They stood by us all along and it's awesome to see them out here to support us today.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: uphold

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To do nothing. To be inactive in a situation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • I can't simply stand by and watch you ruin your life.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lallygag, waste time, arse about, arse around, bludge, bum around, cabbage, clown around, dally, dawdle, dick about, dick around, diddle, dilly-dally, dretch, drumble, faff, faff about, faff around, fanny about, fanny around, fart about, fart around, fiddle about, fiddle around, fool about, fool around, footle, forslow, goof around, goof off, hang about, hang around, hang out, horse around, idle, jerk off, lamp, laze, laze about, laze around, linger, loaf, loaf about, loaf around, loiter, lollop, lollygag, mess around, mill about, mill around, muck about, muck around, piddle, pingle, stand by, tarry, tool around, while

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

be available or ready for a certain function or service

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: stick around, stick about

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: wait

6

verb

Meaning 6

be loyal to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She stood by her husband in times of trouble
  • The friends stuck together through the war

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: stick by, stick, adhere

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: be

7

verb

Meaning 7

not act or do anything

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He just stood by when the police beat up the demonstrators

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: refrain, forbear

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

39 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: olla valmiina — to wait in expectation of some event
  • French: se tenir prêt — to wait in expectation of some event
  • Hungarian: készen áll — to wait in expectation of some event
  • Hungarian: készenlétben van/áll — to wait in expectation of some event
  • Hungarian: vár — to wait in expectation of some event
  • Norwegian Bokmål: være parat — to wait in expectation of some event
  • Norwegian Bokmål: være klar — to wait in expectation of some event
  • Norwegian Bokmål: følge med — to wait in expectation of some event
  • Portuguese: esperar — to wait in expectation of some event
  • Russian: быть в ожида́нии (bytʹ v ožidánii) — to wait in expectation of some event
  • Spanish: esperar — to wait in expectation of some event
  • Finnish: pysyä uskollisena — to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)
  • Finnish: tukea — to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)
  • French: rester fidèle à — to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)
  • French: maintenir — to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)
  • French: s'en tenir à — to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)
  • Hungarian: kitart — to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)
  • Hungarian: kiáll — to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)
  • Hungarian: fenntart — to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)
  • Norwegian Bokmål: stå ved — to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)
  • Norwegian Bokmål: stå fast ved — to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)
  • Russian: стоя́ть за (stojátʹ za) — to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)
  • Swedish: stå fast vid — to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)
  • Finnish: seisoa rinnalla — to support someone
  • Finnish: tukea — to support someone
  • German: beistehen — to support someone
  • Hungarian: melléáll — to support someone
  • Hungarian: mellett(e) áll — to support someone
  • Hungarian: megvéd — to support someone
  • Hungarian: kiáll — to support someone
  • Russian: подде́рживать (poddérživatʹ) — to support someone
  • Chinese Mandarin: 袖手 (xiùshǒu) — to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 袖手旁觀 /袖手旁观 (xiùshǒupángguān) — to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation
  • Finnish: seistä — to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation
  • Finnish: katsoa vierestä — to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation
  • Hungarian: csak áll — to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation
  • Hungarian: tétlenül szemlél — to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation
  • Hungarian: nem tesz semmit — to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation
  • Russian: безде́йствовать (bezdéjstvovatʹ) — to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation