1.
If you are standing by, you are ready and waiting to provide help or to take action.
British and American warships are standing by to evacuate their citizens if necessary...
We will be holding the auditions from nine o’clock tomorrow night so ~ for details.
PHRASAL VERB: V P to-inf, V P for n
see also standby
2.
If you ~ and let something bad happen, you do not do anything to stop it.
The Secretary of Defence has said that he would not ~ and let democracy be undermined...
PHRASAL VERB: V P disapproval
3.
If you ~ someone, you continue to give them support, especially when they are in trouble.
I wouldn’t break the law for a friend, but I would ~ her if she did.
= stick by
PHRASAL VERB: V P n approval
4.
If you ~ an earlier decision, promise, or statement, you continue to support it or keep it.
The decision has been made and I have got to ~ it...
= stick by
PHRASAL VERB: V P n