to stand by

Examples

• All

• FBI cannot stand by and let this situation continue.

  The Negotiator (1998)

• We need to make clear that we won't stand by as they subvert democracy right before our eyes.

• People should know that we will stand by them, as we have throughout the last two years.

• When the street then attacks women and the police stand by and do nothing, that continues.

  Blog text (3)

• I was not going to stand by and see another Marine die just to live by those rules, Colonel.

• No teacher would have stood by and let the other kids destroy a hill's project, either.

  Fiction book (1992)

• No, I can't stand by and watch this happen!

  We Bought a Zoo (2011)

• Our heart tells us that we can't just stand by while people live these lives and cause others so much misery.

• We can no longer stand by and allow well-organized, conservative groups to shape maternal-child health policy.

  Academic text (2001)

• We cannot just stand by while innocent people are suffering from this crisis.

Synonyms

S

to stand back

vsto stand by

159 1.6

Move away and keep a safe distance from something or someone for safety

stays inactive without physical distancing when action is expected

S

to sit back

vsto stand by

• Informal

103 3.5

To do nothing when you should help

remains inactive even when intervention is expected

S

to sit tight

vsto stand by

• Informal

80 3.7

To wait patiently and not act

holds back from acting even when help or action is needed

H

to hold off

vsto stand by

78 3.8

To wait before doing something

does nothing through inaction rather than choosing a deliberate delay

S

to sit by

vsto stand by

12 5.6

Do nothing while something bad or important happens

fails to intervene when action is expected

S

to sit on your hands

vsto stand by

• Informal

12 8.1

Not do anything when action is needed

does nothing despite expectation that someone should act

Antonyms

A

to act

∞ 1.0

Take action to deal with a problem or situation

I

to intervene

197 5.0

To become involved in a situation to change or stop what is happening

How Involved

to intervene

197 5.0

to stand by

90 4.2

to look on

50 3.4

to ignore

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology