stick by

continue to support someone through difficult times

B2

What does "stick by sb" mean?

To stick by someone means to continue supporting them during a hard time, even when it would be easier to walk away. This phrasal verb is all about loyalty — it suggests that the person doing the supporting is making a conscious, sometimes difficult, choice to remain there for someone else. It's typically used when the other person is facing a scandal, a failure, an illness, or some other ongoing challenge. The phrase often appears with expressions like 'through it all', 'no matter what', or 'despite everything', which reinforce the idea of unwavering commitment. Unlike simply helping someone once, sticking by someone implies sustained, long-term support.

Examples

How to use it

stick by + person

The most common pattern — 'stick by' is always followed directly by the person being supported, with nothing placed between 'stick' and 'by'.

Her colleagues stuck by her when the project went badly wrong.

stick by + pronoun

Pronouns are very natural here and follow the particle 'by' directly, just like full noun objects.

I know things are difficult right now, but we're going to stick by you.

stick by + person + through/during + hardship

Time or context phrases often follow the object to make the nature of the difficulty explicit.

She stuck by her partner through months of uncertainty after he lost his job.

stick by + person + no matter what / despite everything

Concessive phrases like 'no matter what' and 'despite everything' are frequently used to emphasise the unconditional nature of the support.

He said he would stick by his teammate no matter what the press wrote about him.

will stick by + person

The future simple with 'will' is commonly used to make promises of loyalty or to describe firm intentions.

Whatever happens next, I will stick by my friend.

Common Collocations

stick by a friendstick by your partnerstick by familystick by someone through hard timesstick by someone no matter whatstick by a colleague

Common Mistakes

Confusing 'stick by' with 'stick with'

'Stick by' is specifically about staying loyal to a person through difficulties. 'Stick with' is broader and often refers to continuing with a task, plan, or habit — not supporting a person through hardship.

✗ I'm going to stick by this exercise routine no matter how hard it gets.
✓ I'm going to stick with this exercise routine no matter how hard it gets.
Trying to separate the verb and particle

'Stick by' is inseparable — the object must always come after 'by', never between 'stick' and 'by'.

✗ She stuck her friend by through the whole ordeal.
✓ She stuck by her friend through the whole ordeal.
Using 'stick by' with abstract objects

'Stick by' almost always takes a person as its object. When talking about supporting a decision or position, 'stand by' is the more natural choice.

✗ The manager decided to stick by his original plan despite the criticism.
✓ The manager decided to stand by his original plan despite the criticism.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both spoken and written English. It always requires a person as its object and is inseparable — never put anything between 'stick' and 'by'.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'stick by' be used in the passive, like 'she was stuck by her friends'?

Technically it's possible, but it sounds very unnatural and you'll almost never see or hear it. 'Stick by' is nearly always active, with the focus on the person doing the supporting. It's better to always use the active form.

Can I say 'I am sticking by him' using the present continuous?

It's grammatically possible but it sounds a little unusual. Native speakers tend to prefer the simple present ('I stick by him'), present perfect ('I've stuck by him'), or future simple ('I will stick by him') when talking about loyalty. The present continuous is best avoided with this phrasal verb.

Does 'stick by' always have to be about a person?

Almost always, yes. The object of 'stick by' is typically a person or group of people, such as a friend, partner, or colleague. You might occasionally see 'stick by a decision', but 'stand by a decision' sounds more natural for non-personal objects.

What's the difference between 'stick by someone' and 'stand by someone'?

In the sense of showing loyalty, they are very close in meaning and often interchangeable. However, 'stick by' places a stronger emphasis on staying loyal through a prolonged or difficult period, while 'stand by' has additional meanings (such as waiting or being on standby) that 'stick by' does not share.

How is 'stick by someone' different from 'stick up for someone'?

'Stick up for someone' means to defend a person verbally in a specific moment — for example, speaking out when someone is being criticised. 'Stick by someone' is about ongoing emotional and moral support over a longer period of time, not just a single act of defence.

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