What does withstand mean?

Definitions for withstand
wɪθˈstænd, wɪð-with·stand

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word withstand.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. defy, withstand, hold, hold upverb

    resist or confront with resistance

    "The politician defied public opinion"; "The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear"; "The bridge held"

  2. resist, hold out, withstand, stand firmverb

    stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something

Wiktionary

  1. withstandverb

    To resist or endure (something) successfully.

  2. withstandverb

    To oppose (something) forcefully.

  3. Etymology: wiðstandan (wið "against" + standan "to stand")

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. To Withstandverb

    To gainstand; to oppose; to resist.

    Etymology: with and stand.

    The violence of sorrow is not at the first to be striven withal, being like a mighty beast, sooner tamed with following, than overthrown by withstanding. Philip Sidney.

    The wonderful zeal and fervour wherewith ye have withstood the received orders of this church, was the first thing which caused me to enter unto consideration, whether every christian man fearing God, stand bound to join with you. Richard Hooker.

    It is our frailty that in many things we all do amiss, but a virtue that we would do amiss in nothing, and a testimony of that virtue, that when we pray that what occasion of sin soever do offer itself, we may be strengthened from above to withstand it. Richard Hooker, b. v.

    They soon set sail; nor now the fates withstand;
    Their forces trusted with a foreign hand. Dryden.

    When Elymas withstood Paul and Barnabas, and when Paul says of Alexander, he hath greatly withstood our words, do we think the withstanding there was without speaking? Francis Atterbury.

ChatGPT

  1. withstand

    To withstand means to remain undamaged, unaffected, or stay strong, often in a situation or under conditions that are difficult or hostile. It can also refer to the ability to resist or endure something challenging such as stress, pressure, or some form of adverse conditions.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Withstand

    to stand against; to oppose; to resist, either with physical or moral force; as, to withstand an attack of troops; to withstand eloquence or arguments

  2. Etymology: [AS. wistandan. See With, prep., and Stand.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Withstand

    with-stand′, v.t. to stand against: to oppose or resist:—pa.t. and pa.p. Withstood′.—n. Withstand′er.

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer

  1. withstand

    To oppose; to resist; as, to withstand the attack of troops.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of withstand in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of withstand in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of withstand in a Sentence

  1. Tidjane Thiam:

    We will need a strong balance sheet that allows us to withstand adversity, while continuing to invest in the future.

  2. Tom Coker:

    If these things are so important, they ought to be able to withstand debate.

  3. Jerome Powell:

    We feel the economy is very strong and will be able to withstand tighter monetary policy.

  4. Bryden Teich:

    No one can predict where oil prices are going to be in six months or a year. So for us, we're trying to pick companies that can withstand a period of lower prices for longer.

  5. Allakhverdi Mamedov:

    When the fire started, we sat in two lifeboats, but did not put them down on the sea surface as we were afraid that a storm could break them into pieces, we were sitting and waiting for rescuers, when the hawsers of the other boat ripped, it dropped into the water and collapsed. Hawsers, which were holding other boats, broke as they did not withstand the pressure from the storm.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

withstand#10000#19121#100000

Translations for withstand

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"withstand." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 21 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/withstand>.

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    having a build with little fat or muscle but with long limbs
    A foreordained
    B ectomorphic
    C soft-witted
    D eloquent

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