stick by meaning and examples thumbnail

stick by meaning and examples

2025-10-03

Meaning

  • Stick by means to remain loyal, support, or stay with someone, especially during difficult times.
  • It can also mean to keep following a decision, promise, or plan without changing it.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: Phrasal verb

  • Verb type: Transitive (stick by + object) / Intransitive (sometimes used without object)

  • Common structures:

    • "stick by + someone" → remain loyal to someone
    • "stick by + decision/promise/rules" → not change or abandon a commitment

Examples of structures:

  • "He promised to stick by her."
  • "We must stick by our decision."

Common Phrases

  • stick by a friend – remain loyal to a friend
  • stick by your word – keep your promise
  • stick by the rules – follow the rules consistently
  • stick by a decision – not change a choice once made

Collocations

  • stick by + person → family, friend, partner, teammate
  • stick by + abstract noun → promise, word, decision, rules, principle

Examples

  1. She always sticks by her friends, even when they make mistakes.
  2. The company promised to stick by its employees during the crisis.
  3. I’ll stick by you no matter what happens.
  4. He stuck by his decision despite criticism from others.
  5. True leaders stick by their principles.
  6. She stuck by her word and completed the project on time.
  7. They stuck by each other through good times and bad.
  8. We should stick by the rules to ensure fairness.
  • stand by
  • be loyal to
  • support
  • back up
  • hold to

Antonym

  • abandon
  • desert
  • betray
  • give up on
  • turn against