To stand for something means to represent or symbolize it. It can also mean to tolerate or accept a certain behavior, situation, or principle. In addition, "stand for" can refer to an abbreviation or acronym. For example, CIA stands for Central Intelligence Agency.

stand for verb to represent or mean to be or become a candidate for to support or recommend informal. to tolerate or bear he won't stand for any disobedience

stand for (third-person singular simple present stands for, present participle standing for, simple past and past participle stood for) (idiomatic) To mean; to symbolize; to represent

Definition of stand for phrasal verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary stand for phrasal verb stand for something [no passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) to be an abbreviation or symbol of something “The book's by T.C. Smith.” “What does the “T.C.” stand for?”