# withstood

/wɪθˈstʊd/ (US) · /wɪðstˈʊd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/withstood
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

to have been strong enough not to break or give up when something difficult happened. It means you survived a hard situation or a physical force without being damaged.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'withstand'; refers to having successfully resisted or endured a physical force or a difficult situation without collapsing.

## Examples

- The old bridge withstood the heavy storm last night.
- The ancient castle walls have withstood centuries of attacks and harsh weather conditions.
- The company's reputation withstood the initial scandal, largely due to the CEO's transparent communication and the long-standing loyalty of its customer base.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and requires a direct object representing the force or pressure being resisted.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.