withstand

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /wɪðˈstænd/ UK /wɪðˈstænd/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to resist or endure successfully without giving way

The bridge was built to withstand the strongest gales.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to resist or endure... resist endure oppose weather tolerate bear brave

Opposites

yield surrender succumb capitulate

Word family

Related forms with stand understand

Common collocations

withstand wear Verb + noun

Etymology

From Old English wiþstandan ('to resist, oppose'), a compound of wiþ ('against') + standan ('to stand'), thus literally 'to stand against'.

wiþ Old English standan Old English

View etymology graph ->

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Actions & Processes

# withstand

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** wɪðˈstænd
**IPA (UK):** wɪðˈstænd

## Meanings
1. to resist or endure successfully without giving way

## Examples
- The bridge was built to withstand the strongest gales.

## Synonyms
- resist
- endure
- oppose
- weather
- tolerate
- bear
- brave

## Antonyms
- yield
- surrender
- succumb
- capitulate

## Related Forms
- with
- stand
- understand

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: wiþ
- Root: standan

## Etymology
From Old English wiþstandan ('to resist, oppose'), a compound of wiþ ('against') + standan ('to stand'), thus literally 'to stand against'.

## AI Etymology
Withstand is a verb meaning "to resist or endure successfully without giving way". Historically, it is from Old English wiþstandan ('to resist, oppose'), a compound of wiþ ('against') + standan ('to stand'), thus literally 'to stand against'. The visible construction is part of the etymology: withstand is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Old English wiþ with Old English standan. Close English family members include with, stand, and understand.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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withstand

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