abide

[ uh-bahyd ]

verb (used without object)

, a·bode or a·bid·ed, a·bid·ing.

1. to remain; continue; stay:

   Abide with me.

   Synonyms: tarry

2. to have one's abode; dwell; reside:

   to abide in a small Scottish village.

   Synonyms: live

3. to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship, etc.; last.

   Synonyms: endure, persevere

verb (used with object)

, a·bode or a·bid·ed, a·bid·ing.

1. to put up with; tolerate; stand:

   I can't abide dishonesty!

   Synonyms: support, brook, endure, bear

2. to endure, sustain, or withstand without yielding or submitting:

   to abide a vigorous onslaught.

3. to wait for; await:

   to abide the coming of the Lord.

4. to accept without opposition or question:

   to abide the verdict of the judges.

5. to pay the price or penalty of; suffer for.

verb phrase

1. 1. to act in accord with.
   2. to submit to; agree to:

      to abide by the court's decision.

   3. to remain steadfast or faithful to; keep:

      If you make a promise, abide by it.

abide

/ əˈbaɪd /

verb

1. tr to tolerate; put up with
2. tr to accept or submit to; suffer

   to abide the court's decision

3. intrfoll byby
   1. to comply (with)

      to abide by the decision

   2. to remain faithful (to)

      to abide by your promise

4. intr to remain or continue
5. archaic.
   intr to dwell
6. archaic.
   tr to await in expectation
7. archaic.
   tr to withstand or sustain; endure

   to abide the onslaught

Derived Forms

• aˈbidance, noun
• aˈbider, noun

Other Words From

• a·bider noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abide¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English abiden, Old English ābīdan; cognate with Old High German irbītan “to await,” Gothic usbeisns “expectation, patience”; equivalent to a- ³ + bide

Word History and Origins

Origin of abide¹

Old English ābīdan, from a- (intensive) + bīdan to wait, bide

Idioms and Phrases

• can't stand (abide)

Example Sentences

North Korea must show it is serious and prepared to abide by its commitments, particularly concerning denuclearization.

From The Daily Beast

Human happiness,” the Greek historian Herodotus once observed, “does not abide long in one place.

From The Daily Beast

But even for children struggling to care for elderly parents on their own want to abide by tradition.

From The Daily Beast

Beyond the mental acuity needed to focus through the pain, the young woman must also abide by a strict diet.

From The Daily Beast

Broussard was not the sort of man who could abide such defeat.

From The Daily Beast

These redcoats move along social lines that don't look like much to a cowman; but once in the Force you must abide by them.

From Project Gutenberg

And they constrained him, saying, "Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent."

From Project Gutenberg

And Asor shall be a habitation for dragons, desolate for ever: no man shall abide there, nor son of man inhabit it.

From Project Gutenberg

It was not easy to give an answer; he could not abide her meetings, but he was at a loss for a decent excuse.

From Project Gutenberg

Here is our nativity, and here have we the natural right to abide and be elevated through the measures of our own efforts.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accept
• stand for
• tolerate