Sit/stand silently by Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Passive Presence Use when highlighting someone’s choice to not intervene, especially in challenging situations. With the chaos unfolding, the guards stood silently by. Pro Tip 2/3Moral Implications Implies a judgment on the person who is not taking action when it's expected of them. He could have helped, but he chose to stand silently by. Pro Tip 3/3Negative Emotion Often used to convey disapproval or disappointment in someone's inaction. They stood silently by, ignoring the cries for help.