Dictionary

stand by en · VERB

Pronunciation

• audio
• [ˌstændˈbaɪ̯] without æ-raising
• /ˌsteə̯ndˈbaɪ̯/ (Canada, US)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˌstɛːndˈbɑ̟ɪ̯/ (Australia)
• /ˌstɛə̯ndˈbaɪ̯/ (Canada, US)
• /ˌstændˈbaɪ̯/ without æ-raising

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To wait in expectation of some event; to be ready.
   • It had been his intention to go to Wimbledon, but as he himself said: “Why be blooming well frizzled when you can hear all the results over the wireless.[…]You stand by, Janet, and wake me up if they do any of that running commentary stuff.” 1935, George Goodchild, chapter 3, in Death on the Centre Court:
   • Please stand by for more instructions.
2. (idiomatic, transitive) To remain loyal or faithful to.
   • [W]hen a Hamas spokesman recently stood by his statement that Jews used the blood of non-Jewish children for their matzos – one of the oldest anti-Semitic canards around – European elites were largely silent. 2014 August 20, “Why Jews are worried [print version: International New York Times, 22 August 2014, p. 8]”, in The New York Times:
   • Even though money is scarce sometimes, Ann stands by her decision to be a full-time mother.
3. (idiomatic, transitive) To support; to continue to support despite things being bad.
   • They stood by us all along and it's awesome to see them out here to support us today.
4. (intransitive) To do nothing. To be inactive in a situation.
   • I can't simply stand by and watch you ruin your life.

Forms

Descendants

istambay · tambay · estambay · tambay

Relateds

bestand

Synonyms

waste time · hold on · lallygag · arse about · waste time · pingle · fool around · piddle · fanny about · stay · stand by · fanny around · drumble · twiddle one's thumbs · keep faith · stick by · abide · hang on · loaf · lollop · fiddle about · fool about · hold one's water · hang out · bide one's time · (UK, idiomatic) go to the wall for someone · mill about · muck about · bum around · faff around · linger · lallygag · hold on · footle · tarry · goof around · mark time · arse around · uphold · laze · loiter · muck around · lollygag · mess around · idle · tool around · faff about · dally · clown around · dick around · abide by · hang around · goof off · go to the wall for someone · stick with · stay · dretch · back that train up · stand by · dick about · horse around · laze around · faff · hold one's breath · hang about · hang on · bludge · wait · diddle · forslow · jerk off · bide · defer · loaf around · mill around · loaf about · cabbage · dawdle · while · fart around · stand by · fiddle around · dilly-dally · hold one's horses · fart about · expect · lamp · laze about · keep faith · hold out

Translations (48)

pl przypatrywać się biernie (to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation) · ru безде́йствовать (to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation) · fi pysyä uskollisena (to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)) · hu készenlétben van/áll (to wait in expectation of some event) · hu kiáll (to support someone) · fi katsoa vierestä (to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation) · fr maintenir (to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)) · pl podtrzymać (to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)) · hu vár (to wait in expectation of some event) · pl być w gotowości (to wait in expectation of some event) · fi olla valmiina (to wait in expectation of some event) · fr se tenir prêt (to wait in expectation of some event) · hu nem tesz semmit (to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation) · hu kitart (to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)) · fi tukea (to support someone) · pl trwać przy (to support someone) · nb stå ved (to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)) · nb være parat (to wait in expectation of some event) · pl wesprzeć (to support someone) · nb stå fast ved (to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)) · hu fenntart (to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)) · nb følge med (to wait in expectation of some event) · cmn 袖手 (to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation) · sv stå fast vid (to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)) · hu mellett(e) áll (to support someone) · ru стоя́ть за (to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)) · hu kiáll (to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)) · nb være klar (to wait in expectation of some event) · fi tukea (to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)) · fr rester fidèle à (to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)) · fi seisoa rinnalla (to support someone) · pl być w pogotowiu (to wait in expectation of some event) · pl podtrzymywać (to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)) · pt esperar (to wait in expectation of some event) · hu melléáll (to support someone) · cmn 袖手旁觀 /袖手旁观 (to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation) · pl trwać przy (to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)) · hu csak áll (to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation) · de beistehen (to support someone) · ru подде́рживать (to support someone) · fr s'en tenir à (to remain loyal or faithful to (some decision etc.)) · ru быть в ожида́нии (to wait in expectation of some event) · hu megvéd (to support someone) · hu tétlenül szemlél (to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation) · fi seistä (to do nothing; to be inactive in a situation) · es esperar (to wait in expectation of some event) · pl wspierać (to support someone) · hu készen áll (to wait in expectation of some event)