Phrase guide

stand for

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

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To mean; to symbolize; to represent; especially of an acronym or abbreviation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • The abbreviation CIA stands for "Central Intelligence Agency".

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To advocate; to support.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To tolerate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • We won't stand for that type of behaviour.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

tolerate or bear

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I won't stand for this kind of behavior!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hold still for

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: digest, endure, stick out, stomach, bear, stand, tolerate, support, brook, abide, suffer, put up

5

verb

Meaning 5

express indirectly by an image, form, or model; be a symbol

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • What does the Statue of Liberty symbolize?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: typify, symbolize, symbolise, represent

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: mean, intend

Narrower terms: embody, be, personify, typify, epitomize, epitomise

6

verb

Meaning 6

denote or connote

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • `maison' means `house' in French
  • An example sentence would show what this word means

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: mean, intend, signify

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: denote, refer

7

verb

Meaning 7

take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Because of the sound changes in the course of history, an 'h' in Greek stands for an 's' in Latin

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: represent, correspond

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: equal, be

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

29 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: إِسْتَنَدَ (ʔistanada) — to mean, symbolize or represent
  • Dutch: staan voor — to mean, symbolize or represent
  • Finnish: tarkoittaa — to mean, symbolize or represent
  • Italian: rappresentare — to mean, symbolize or represent
  • Italian: significare — to mean, symbolize or represent
  • Occitan: representar — to mean, symbolize or represent
  • Occitan: simbolizar — to mean, symbolize or represent
  • Occitan: significar — to mean, symbolize or represent
  • Portuguese: significar — to mean, symbolize or represent
  • Portuguese: querer dizer — to mean, symbolize or represent
  • Russian: означа́ть (označátʹ) — to mean, symbolize or represent
  • Spanish: significar — to mean, symbolize or represent
  • Spanish: representar — to mean, symbolize or represent
  • Spanish: la sigla significa — to mean, symbolize or represent
  • Swedish: stå för — to mean, symbolize or represent
  • Arabic: سَانَدَ (sānada) — to advocate or support
  • Dutch: voorstaan — to advocate or support
  • Finnish: kannattaa — to advocate or support
  • German: eintreten — to advocate or support
  • German: unterstützen — to advocate or support
  • Italian: sostenere — to advocate or support
  • Occitan: sosténer — to advocate or support
  • Occitan: defendre — to advocate or support
  • Russian: выступать за (vystupatʹ za) — to advocate or support
  • Swedish: stå för — to advocate or support
  • Swedish: stödja — to advocate or support
  • Swedish: förespråka — to advocate or support
  • Finnish: sietää — to tolerate
  • Russian: терпеть (terpetʹ) — to tolerate