with-STAND
/wɪθˈstænd/
withstand is pronounced with-STAND (/wɪθˈstænd/). Withstand means to stand up against something or to endure or resist a force, pressure, or temptation without giving way. It implies maintaining function, position, or resolve when faced with difficulty. The term often appears in contexts of weather, testing, or moral challenges, suggesting durability and resilience rather than surrender.
Withstand means to stand up against something or to endure or resist a force, pressure, or temptation without giving way. It implies maintaining function, position, or resolve when faced with difficulty. The term often appears in contexts of weather, testing, or moral challenges, suggesting durability and resilience rather than surrender.
- Not articulating /ð/ clearly; many learners substitute /d/ or /z/. Fix: place tongue gently between upper and lower teeth and voice the sound. - Slurring the /st/ into /s/ or /t/; keep them as a clean sequence /st/ before the final /nd/. - Reducing the final /nd/ to an /n/ or stopping at /d/; aim for a deliberate /nd/ closure with a brief voiceless release before the vowel ends. - Over-lengthening the first syllable; keep the primary stress on the second syllable and compress the first into a quick, light lead-in.
"The bridge was built to withstand earthquakes and strong gusts of wind."
"She could withstand the heat for hours during the outdoor ceremony."
"The policy stayed in place because it was designed to withstand political pressure."
Pronounce it as /wɪðˈstænd/. The first syllable is a short /ɪ/ as in “kit,” followed by the voiced interdental fricative /ð/ like in “this.” The second syllable carries the primary stress: /ˈstænd/, with the /æ/ as in “cat” and a clear /nd/ at the end. Tip: run it together as one word, not “with-stand” in two stressed parts.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying with-STAND), mispronouncing /ð/ as /d/ or /z/, and softening the final /nd/ into /n/ or /t/. Correct by keeping primary stress on the second syllable, producing a crisp /ð/ with the tongue between the teeth, and finishing with a clear /nd/ without vowel intrusion. Practice: /wɪðˈstænd/ in slow speed, then normal tempo.
In US, UK, and AU, the core is /wɪðˈstænd/. US speakers may voice the /ð/ more softly in rapid speech, UK speakers often maintain a crisp interdental fricative, and Australian speakers may reduce color in vowels slightly, but /ð/ remains clear. The final /nd/ is generally the same, though vowel length before it can vary subtly (American /æ/ may feel a touch more open). Overall, keep /ð/ clear and stress the second syllable in all accents.
The challenge lies in the consonant cluster /θ/ or /ð/ followed by /st/ and the final /nd/. The interdental /ð/ requires the tongue tip between the teeth, which many learners find awkward, and the /st/ sequence demands clean alveolar contact. Additionally, the /æ/ vowel before /nd/ can vary in length under stress. Focusing on the exact mouth positions and practicing minimal pairs helps overcome these issues.
A unique feature is the transition from /ð/ to /st/, a rapid change that benefits from a light, forward tongue position for /ð/ and an immediate, crisp /s/ followed by /t/ without vowel between. This creates a smooth, single-syllable feel in connected speech despite being two phonemes plus a cluster. Ensure the /ð/ is produced with the tongue between teeth, not touching the upper gum.
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- US: Keep /ð/ precise, a bit flapped in fast speech but still present; /æ/ is slightly open, sometimes closer to /æ/ in stressed contexts. - UK: Clear interdental /ð/ with gentle but precise tongue placement; /æ/ may be a touch tenser; final /nd/ is crisp. - AU: /ð/ remains, but vowel qualities in /ɪ/ and /æ/ can be more centralized; maintain the /stænd/ cluster with clean alveolar contact. Use IPA references as you practice and listen for subtle rhoticity differences in connected phrases.
The verb withstand traces its origins to Old English withstandan, from the combination of witan (unknown) and standan (to stand). Historical sources indicate an early sense of “to stand against” or “to endure.” The word traveled through Middle English with slight semantic shifts, retaining the core idea of opposing or bearing up under pressure. By the 16th century, withstand appeared in legal, military, and religious contexts, often describing steadfast defense, fortitude, or resilience. The
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "withstand" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "withstand" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "withstand"
-and sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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