Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To resist or oppose with determined effort.
  • intransitive verb To be undamaged or unaffected by.
  • intransitive verb To resist or endure successfully.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To stand against; oppose; resist, either with physical or with moral force: frequently with an implication of effectual resistance; resist or oppose suceessfully: as, to withstand the storm.
  • Synonyms Resist, etc. (see oppose), confront, face.
  • To make a stand; resist; show resistance.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To stand against; to oppose; to resist, either with physical or moral force.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To resist or endure (something) successfully.
  • verb To oppose (something) forcefully.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb resist or confront with resistance
  • verb stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English withstanden, from Old English withstandan : with, against; see with + standan, to stand; see stand.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Old English wiðstandan (wið "against" + standan "to stand")

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Examples

  • I throw my hat in with those I think will long term withstand the pressure.

    Such Jews are not hipsters 2009

  • However, one thing that hardly any government has been able to withstand is treachery within the government.

    Mike Robertson on China 2005

  • The lowest temperature that freeze tolerant species are able to withstand is about - 8°C.

    Archive 2004-09-01 2004

  • We were very concerned in a lot of the sort of internal discussion, when we were advancing the Bill to the floor which revolved around what sort of response there would be to any type of mischief-making on the floor by the opponents of this legislation and, whether we could if there was an attempt to separate out gender identity and expression withstand an attempt to do that and keep the Bill intact.

    Charlotte Robinson: Obama, McCain Differ Greatly on Gay Rights, An Interview With Congresswoman Baldwin 2008

  • Does an outright prohibition of automated political calls withstand the constitutional test of the First Amendment guaranteeing freedom of speech?

    unknown title 2009

  • Haha, way to "withstand" the GOP attacks Hillary, you already have one foot in the electoral grave from the Republicans 'standpoint.

    Hillary Pollster Mark Penn: Obama More Likely To Suffer Fate Of John Kerry Or Al Gore 2009

  • However, since I have patiently explained the difference between the ability to recognise a challenge to the immune system and the ability to "withstand" that challenge a couple of times now, only for Mr Clifford to ignore what was said, he cannot use ignorance as an excuse.

    On Thursday, the Legg report will be published along with... 2008

  • Martin O'Neill is optimistic Aston Villa can "withstand" any offers this summer from the Barclays Premier League big guns for the club's group of talented young players.

    icNewcastle 2009

  • Martin O'Neill is optimistic Aston Villa can "withstand" any offers this summer from the Barclays Premier League big guns for the club's group of talented young players.

    icNewcastle 2009

  • Martin O'Neill is optimistic Aston Villa can "withstand" any offers this summer from the Barclays Premier League big guns for the club's group of talented young players.

    icNewcastle 2009

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