withstood

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "withstood" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb that means to resist successfully or to endure something difficult or unpleasant. Example: Despite the hardships of the past year, the couple withstood the challenges and celebrated their one-year anniversary.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Meanwhile, Collingwood withstood a dramatic fightback from Brisbane to register a hard-earned but richly deserved 12-point win at the Gabba.

The Guardian - Sport

He withstood heaps of personal abuse from nationalist ultras.

The Guardian - Opinion

The evidence of the atrocities collected in Arnold Toynbee's Blue Book, although published by the government for propaganda purposes, has withstood all attempts to discredit it.

The Guardian - Books

It's a survivor, a raptor that has withstood everything we humans could throw at it.

The Guardian

"The players have withstood enormous uncertainty, public scrutiny and speculation over their health, their careers, and their reputations.

The Guardian - Sport

Charlton withstood the best of the Leeds onslaught, but were unable to prevent skipper Brendan Ormsby from snatching a goal through 20-year-old striker Bob Taylor – who had been recalled by Bremner from a holiday after John Pearson had been injured.

The Guardian - Sport

Forget worries about rampaging stag parties – Prague has withstood far worse in its 1,000-year 1,000-yearnd its chistoryemand unditsnished.

The Guardian - Travel

Though at times showing a shaky grasp of the detail, Sebelius largely withstood the splintered Republican attack, choosing to apologise for details, such as "legal boilerplate" notices on privacy or failures to conduct testing, but defending the overall system.

The Guardian

A former advocate – the Scottish version of a barrister - Darling was an experienced Commons debater after nearly 30 years as an MP, and had withstood torrid encounters at the dispatch box as chancellor.

The Guardian

Wuthering Heights has, of course, withstood transposition into any number of different forms before - including ballet, film and theatre.

The Guardian - Books

Countries that have withstood the turmoil, like Lebanon and Jordan, are awash with refugees.Mr Obama stands accused, at home and abroad, of having no strategy to deal with the mess.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "withstood", ensure the sentence clearly identifies what was resisted or endured. For example, "The building withstood the earthquake" is clearer than "The building withstood".

Common error

Avoid using "withstood" when the subject only experienced something but did not actively resist or endure it. For example, instead of saying "He withstood the lecture", consider "He listened to the lecture" if there was no active resistance.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "withstood" is as a verb, specifically the past tense of "withstand". It describes the action of successfully resisting or enduring something. Ludwig AI indicates this is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "withstood" is the past tense of the verb "withstand", meaning to resist or endure something successfully. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. As evidenced by the numerous examples from Ludwig, it is frequently used in news and media contexts to describe how entities, be they organizations, structures, or even abstract concepts, have successfully resisted challenges. The word is versatile, though its nuance implies more than mere survival, but an active resistance or resilience. When crafting content, ensure the context accurately reflects this active resistance or endurance. Related terms like "resisted" and "endured" offer alternative ways to express similar meanings, each with subtle differences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resisted

Focuses on the act of opposition, suggesting a deliberate effort to counter something.

endured

Highlights the ability to suffer through something difficult without giving in.

survived

Implies a successful passage through a dangerous or life-threatening situation.

weathered

Suggests successfully navigating a storm or turbulent period.

defied

Emphasizes a bold or open resistance to something powerful or authoritative.

held out against

Indicates a sustained resistance against an opposing force or pressure.

bore

Implies carrying or supporting a heavy burden.

stood up to

Highlights a courageous act of facing a challenge or opposition.

coped with

Focuses on the ability to manage or deal with a difficult situation.

remained unaffected by

Suggests that something did not have an impact or influence.

FAQs

How to use "withstood" in a sentence?

Use "withstood" to indicate that something or someone successfully resisted or endured a difficult force or situation. For instance, "The old bridge "withstood" the storm" or "The company "withstood" the economic downturn".

What can I say instead of "withstood"?

You can use alternatives like "resisted", "endured", or "survived" depending on the context. Each of these words emphasizes a slightly different aspect of overcoming a challenge.

Which is correct, "withstood the test of time" or "stood the test of time"?

"Stood the test of time" is the idiomatic and more common expression. While ""withstood"" can be grammatically correct in other contexts, "stood" is preferred in this specific phrase.

What's the difference between "withstood" and "endured"?

"Withstood" often implies active resistance against something, while "endured" suggests bearing something difficult or unpleasant over time without necessarily resisting. For example, a building "withstood" a hurricane, while a patient endured a long illness.