FluentPlex

stand by

/ˌsteə̯ndˈbaɪ̯/ verb
  1. To wait in expectation of some event; to be ready. (intransitive) · Please stand by for more instructions.
  2. To remain loyal or faithful to. (transitive) · Even though money is scarce sometimes, Ann stands by her decision to be a full-time mother.
  3. To support; to continue to support despite things being bad. (transitive) · They stood by us all along and it's awesome to see them out here to support us today.
  4. To do nothing. To be inactive in a situation. (intransitive) · I can't simply stand by and watch you ruin your life.
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From the library

Then, as they were just passing the Round Tower, the young man shouted: “Stand by there to lower the topsails and jib; brail up the spanker!”
The Count of Monte Cristo, p. 3 · C1
What I ask you now is how do I stand by the English law?”
The Valley of Fear, p. 99 · C1
There are at least six words of the message which have escaped us; but what remains—‘Stand by us for God’s sake!’—proves that this young man saw a formidable danger which approached him, and from which someone else could protect him.
The Return of Sherlock Holmes, p. 106 · C1
But, if I were you, I would stand by the nephew.
Pride and Prejudice, p. 364 · B2

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Words, meanings, pronunciations and translations from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0); how common each word is from wordfreq. Made into this dictionary by FluentPlex.