abide

[uh-bahyd]

verb (used without object)

abode, abided, abiding. 

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)

abode, abided, abiding. 

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. abide by

   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. 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

Other Word Forms

• abider noun
• abidance 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

Higher education institutions maintain that their tuition practices abide by the law.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Bondi abided, and appointed a top federal prosecutor to pursue the investigation with “urgency and integrity.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

What’s Next: The AGA has been consistently opposed to prediction markets, in part because they don’t have to pay state taxes or abide by the consumer safety regulations established by state regulators.

Read more on Barron's

While Russia and the U.S. are still abiding by some arms-controls limits, such as the New Start treaty that expires in February, China, unconstrained by any commitments, is quietly but rapidly leaping ahead.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The group has said it would abide by a cease-fire the U.S. brokered last month between Israel and Hamas.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• accept 
• stand for 
• tolerate