STAND FIRM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does stand firm mean? 

• STAND FIRM (verb)
  The verb STAND FIRM has 2 senses:

1. stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something

2. refuse to abandon one's opinion or belief

  Familiarity information: STAND FIRM used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STAND FIRM (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

hold out; resist; stand firm; withstand

Hypernyms (to "stand firm" is one way to...):

defend; fight; fight back; fight down; oppose (fight against or resist strongly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stand firm"):

stand out (be stubborn in resolution or resistance)

stand up (refuse to back down; remain solid under criticism or attack)

outbrave (resist bravely)

hold off (resist and fight to a standoff)

remain firm; stand (hold one's ground; maintain a position; be steadfast or upright)

defy; hold; hold up; withstand (resist or confront with resistance)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Refuse to abandon one's opinion or belief

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

hold firm; stand fast; stand firm; stand pat

Hypernyms (to "stand firm" is one way to...):

insist; take a firm stand (be emphatic or resolute and refuse to budge)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stand firm"):

hunker down (hold stubbornly to a position)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s on something

 Context examples 

To add to our concern, we heard voices already drawing near us in the woods along shore, and we had not only the danger of being cut off from the stockade in our half-crippled state but the fear before us whether, if Hunter and Joyce were attacked by half a dozen, they would have the sense and conduct to stand firm.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)