Dictionary

stand up for en · VERB

Meanings

1. (transitive) To speak or act in support or defense of (a person, a cause, a belief, or the like).
   • Though I disagreed with him, I respected him for standing up for what he believed in.
   • Standing up for themselves is often difficult for girls from male-dominated cultures. Take Bahareh Husseini. She fled Iran and now lives in the German city of Düsseldorf. She wanted to study and be able determine her own path in life. In Germany, she found support at Diakonie, a Protestant social welfare organization. There, Jessica te Heesen heads the JUMP project, which helps refugee girls develop self-confidence, assert themselves, and find their way in school and at work. Bahareh is now studying medical physics — and passing on her experiences to others. 2026 February 2, “Strong Women - The Fight for Self-Determination”, in Deutsche Welle, archived from the original on 13 May 2026:
   • She stood up for me when no one else would, and I've never forgotten it.
   • Those who don't stand up for their rights are apt to lose them.
   • 2000 December 3, J. Stewart Burns, Futurama, episode 32: “The Cryonic Woman”, Michelle: Quit standing up for yourself, Fry. When we get back to the hole we are going to have a long, boring talk about our relationship!

Forms

Relateds

stand up to · stand up · take a stand · break a lance

Synonyms

stick up for · defend

Translations (22)

cmn 捍衛 /捍卫 (to speak or act in support or defense of) · nl opkomen voor (to speak or act in support or defense of) · hu kiáll (to speak or act in support or defense of) · pl stanął w obronie (to speak or act in support or defense of) · cmn 挺身而出 (to speak or act in support or defense of) · es romper lanzas por (to speak or act in support or defense of) · sv stå upp för (to speak or act in support or defense of) · es romper una lanza por (to speak or act in support or defense of) · uk відсто́ювати (to speak or act in support or defense of) · es estar al quite de (to speak or act in support or defense of) · tl manindigan (to speak or act in support or defense of) · de sich einsetzen für (to speak or act in support or defense of) · es estar a los quites de (to speak or act in support or defense of) · uk відстоя́ти (to speak or act in support or defense of) · cmn 堅持 /坚持 (to speak or act in support or defense of) · es velar por (to speak or act in support or defense of) · es salir en defensa de (to speak or act in support or defense of) · pl stawać w obronie (to speak or act in support or defense of) · fi puolustaa (to speak or act in support or defense of) · uk посто́яти (to speak or act in support or defense of) · cmn 擁護 /拥护 (to speak or act in support or defense of) · de eintreten für (to speak or act in support or defense of)