Word
withstand
Phoneticswith·stand, stress on the second syllable
US/wɪθˈstænd/
UK/wɪðstˈænd/
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
withstand
Past
withstood
Past participle
withstood
Definitions
01to endure or resist
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to be strong enough to remain undamaged by something like heat, pressure, or a physical attack.
v. to resist or endure a physical or environmental force successfully without collapsing or yielding.
Español:aguantar
“The old bridge was built to withstand even the strongest winter floods.”
“Modern skyscrapers are engineered to withstand significant seismic activity, using flexible foundations to absorb the energy of an earthquake.”
Usage
This is a transitive verb; you withstand a force or a condition directly without using a preposition like 'against'.
02to oppose or hold out
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to successfully resist someone's power, an argument, or a temptation.
v. to maintain one's position against abstract pressure, such as criticism, temptation, or legal challenges.
“She had to withstand a lot of pressure from her family to change her mind.”
“The witness managed to withstand a grueling cross-examination without contradicting her original statement.”
Usage
Often used in formal contexts regarding legal, political, or psychological pressure.
Real-World Examples
“Industry fire-rating tables show that a solid brick wall only about 150 millimeters thick can withstand four hours of standard fire exposure.” “Passkeys aren’t intended to withstand physical attacks against the devices that store them.” Etymology
From Middle English withstanden, from Old English wiþstandan, from Proto-West Germanic *wiþistandan (“to withstand, resist”), equivalent to with- (“against”) + stand. Cognate with Old Frisian withstanda (“to resist”). Compare also Dutch weerstaan (“to withstand, repel”), German widerstehen (“to withstand, resist, defy”), Russian противостоять (protivostojatʹ, “to withstand”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/withstand
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0