withstand

Withstand is a transitive verb meaning to stand against and resist or endure successfully a force, pressure, or hardship, often without breaking or giving way. It can describe physical resilience as well as psychological, social, or institutional endurance.

Etymology traces withstand to Old English wiðstandan or Middle English withstanden, formed from wið “against” plus standan “to stand.” The modern form developed in Early Modern English and has remained common in scientific, legal, and everyday language.

Morphology and usage notes: The base form is withstand; the third-person singular is withstands; the past tense and past participle are withstood; the present participle or gerund is withstanding. Withstand conveys a stronger sense of resisting external force or pressure than more general terms like endure, resist, or tolerate, and it is often used with nouns such as a storm, a crisis, scrutiny, or temptation.

Common usages and examples: The dam was designed to withstand earthquakes. The company withstood years of criticism. The bridge withstood the hurricane. The athlete withstood the pain to finish the race. The proposal withstood scrutiny and was approved after revision. The phrase “to withstand the test of time” is a conventional way to describe lasting durability or relevance.

Related terms and contrasts: Synonyms include resist, endure, weather, and stand up to. Withstand differs from simply standing up to by emphasizing successful resistance to force or pressure, whereas endure can imply continuing through hardship without specifying the agent of pressure.