First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
withstand
verb with·stand \with-ˈstand, with-\
: to not be harmed or affected by (something)
: to deal with (something, such as an attack or criticism) successfully
with·stood\-ˈstu̇d\with·stand·ing
Full Definition of WITHSTAND
transitive verb
1
a : to stand up against : oppose with firm determination; especially : to resist successfully b : to be proof against : resist the effect of <withstand the impact of a landing — Current Biography>
2
archaic : to stop or obstruct the course of
See withstand defined for English-language learners
See withstand defined for kids
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Origin of WITHSTAND
Middle English, from Old English withstandan, from with against + standan to stand
Related to WITHSTAND
Synonym Discussion of WITHSTAND
oppose, combat, resist, withstand mean to set oneself against someone or something. oppose can apply to any conflict, from mere objection to bitter hostility or warfare <opposed the plan>. combat stresses the forceful or urgent countering of something <combat disease>. resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it <resisting temptation>. withstand suggests a more passive resistance <trying to withstand peer pressure>.
Rhymes with WITHSTAND
armband, at hand, backhand, backland, badland, bandstand, barehand, benchland, blackland, brass band, broadband, brushland, bushland, cabstand, cloudland, coastland, co-brand, command, cowhand, crash-land, cropland, crown land, dead hand, deckhand, demand, disband, dockhand, dockland, downland, dreamland, dryland, duneland, expand, farmhand, farmland, fenland, field hand, filmland, firebrand, firsthand, flatland, forehand, four-hand, free hand, freehand, gangland, glad-hand, Gotland, grandstand, grassland, handstand, hardstand, hatband, headband, headstand, heartland, heathland, home stand, hour hand, Iceland, in hand, inkstand, inland, iron hand, jack stand, jug band, kickstand, Kokand, Lapland, left-hand, longhand, lymph gland, mainland, marshland, misbrand, newsstand, nightstand, northland, noseband, off-brand, offhand, oil gland, old hand, on hand, outland, outstand, parkland, passband, pineland, playland, proband, Queensland, quicksand, rangeland, remand, repand, Rhineland, ribband, right-hand, rimland, ring stand, roband, salt gland, scabland, screenland, scrubland, seastrand, shorthand, sideband, southland, spaceband, stagehand, steel band, summand, swampland, sweatband, sweat gland, tar sand, Thailand, thirdhand, tideland, trainband, unhand, unmanned, waistband, washstand, watchband, wave band, wetland, whip hand, wildland, wristband, X band
WITHSTAND Defined for Kids
withstand
verb with·stand \with-ˈstand, with-\
with·stood \-ˈstu̇d\with·stand·ing
Definition of WITHSTAND for Kids
1
: to hold out against <This house is able to withstand the worst weather.>
2
: to oppose (as an attack) successfully
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