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

The Netherlands, where the court is based, was the first to announce it would abide by the arrest warrants.

From Los Angeles Times

It will publish its codes of practice for companies to abide by in December.

From BBC

In a statement, a Schwan’s spokesman acknowledged there had been “a handful of situations” when “BaronHR failed to pay workers,” but said “we always paid BaronHR for the work performed,” and “we expect the companies we work with to abide by all laws.”

From New York Times

Officers who didn’t abide by a shoot-first, ask-questions-later ethos were ostracized or forced out of the unit, Colomey alleges.

From Los Angeles Times

Because of this redirection, Stake has managed to abide by the FTC’s guidelines.

From Slate

Related Words

• accept
• stand for
• tolerate