How to pronounce withstand
Say it like with-STAND. Withstand has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STAND).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce withstand. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- with
- STAND
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Withstand pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- withKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- STANDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of withstand
American and British speakers say withstand in essentially the same way: /wɪθˈstænd/ in the US and /wɪðˈstænd/ in the UK.
British respelling: with-STAND.
What does withstand mean?
- resist or confront with resistance“The politician defied public opinion”“The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear”
- stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something
Where does withstand come from?
From Middle English withstanden, from Old English wiþstandan, from Proto-West Germanic *wiþistandan (“to withstand, resist”), equivalent to with- (“against”) + stand.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with withstand
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of withstand.
Questions about saying withstand
How do you pronounce withstand?
Say with-STAND. The American pronunciation is /wɪθˈstænd/. In British English it is /wɪðˈstænd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in withstand?
Withstand has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STAND). Broken into parts: with · STAND.
Do Americans and Brits say withstand the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /wɪθˈstænd/ and the British form is /wɪðˈstænd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.