abide
Americanverb (used without object)
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abides,
present (3rd person singular)
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abode,
past participle, past
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abided,
past participle, past
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abiding
present participle
verb (used with object)
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abides,
present (3rd person singular)
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abode,
past participle, past
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abided,
past participle, past
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abiding
present participle
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to put up with; tolerate; stand.
I can't abide dishonesty!
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to endure, sustain, or withstand without yielding or submitting.
to abide a vigorous onslaught.
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to wait for; await.
to abide the coming of the Lord.
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to accept without opposition or question.
to abide the verdict of the judges.
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to pay the price or penalty of; suffer for.
verb phrase
verb
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(tr) to tolerate; put up with
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(tr) to accept or submit to; suffer
to abide the court's decision
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to comply (with)
to abide by the decision
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to remain faithful (to)
to abide by your promise
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(intr) to remain or continue
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archaic (intr) to dwell
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archaic (tr) to await in expectation
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archaic (tr) to withstand or sustain; endure
to abide the onslaught
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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abidesimple
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abidessimple
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have abidedperfect
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have abodeperfect
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has abidedperfect
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has abodeperfect
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am abidingprogressive
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are abidingprogressive
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is abidingprogressive
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have been abidingperfect progressive
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has been abidingperfect progressive
Past
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abidedsimple
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abodesimple
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had abidedperfect
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had abodeperfect
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was abidingprogressive
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were abidingprogressive
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had been abidingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of abide
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
Explanation
Abide means "to be able to live with or put up with." If you can't abide with something, it means you can't stand it. If you can abide it, it means you can live with it. An old definition of abide is "to live" — think of abode, as in "dwelling." If you abide by the rules, it means you live with them, and you will follow them. If you can't abide your sister's shrill violin playing, it means you can't live with it, you can't be in the house when she's practicing. You abide something you don't like, like your teacher's long stories about math. It's not a pleasant experience, but what choice do you have?
Vocabulary lists containing abide
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 7–11
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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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Antigone
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Non-banks filled the gap, though they don’t have to abide rigorous capital, liquidity and stress tests like banks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
On Wednesday, in a local Sydney court, prosecutors withdrew the charges after it was agreed that Ahmed would abide by an apprehended domestic violence order for 12 months, limiting his contact with his father.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
An agency spokesperson said that ICE’s investigative methods abide by the Constitution and respects civil liberties and privacy interests.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Burnham, who replaced Starmer as Labour Party leader and prime minister earlier this month, has vowed to abide by all the party's 2024 election manifesto commitments.
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
“I am only a guest there. The castle and the town belong to Lady Dustin, and she cannot abide you.”
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Nobody’s perfect, and the longer a piece of art abides, the more likely it is that it’ll start to suck.
From Salon ● Apr. 2, 2026
A federal monitor will be installed to ensure Live Nation abides by these terms over the next eight years.
From Slate ● Mar. 10, 2026
UnitedHealth said he abides by its conflict-of-interest policies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026
If you don't understand Spanish then it is perhaps better you search online for the literal translation of the motto which Alcaraz abides by.
From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2026
Does it despise us scythes, but abides us because it has to?
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
"For years, Europeans aided and abided flagrant ethical flaws in the international football federation," said Bruen, head of the Global Situation Room strategic communications firm.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
It requires those submitting trophy kills to sign an affidavit swearing they have abided by club technology and other restrictions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 2026
Over the years, MPs have generally abided by that approach - sometimes grudgingly.
From BBC ● Feb. 24, 2026
Bondi abided, and appointed a top federal prosecutor to pursue the investigation with “urgency and integrity.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 2025
When I was first banned I abided by the rules and regulations of my persecutors.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Still, the actress struggled to find a buyer—with sources telling Realtor.com at the time that, while the four-bedroom abode had come under offer several times, the deals always fell through before they could officially close.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
On June 25, the West Hollywood abode was relisted for $2.095 million—$254,000 less than its previous ask of $2.349 million.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
Upon entering the abode, guests are greeted with a charming living area with a cozy fireplace and large windows.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
It was widely reported at the time that the Van Der Beeks owned the Beverly Hills abode, which is now worth around $4 million, according to estimates.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
Near the town was Gotama’s favorite abode, the Jetavana grove, which the rich merchant Anatha-pindika, a great devotee of the Illustrious One, had presented to him and his followers.
From "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse
In the abiding spirit of the Americans who believed in and built that promise, this year’s series on how to think about constitutional meaning is limited only by what you, the people, can imagine.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
Instead of abiding by existing trading hours for traditional derivatives exchanges, perpetual contracts trade 24 hours, seven days a week, with cash settlement occurring at regular intervals.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 5, 2026
"Those retailers that aren't abiding by their legal obligation won't do this, it won't be enforced, and ultimately consumers will go to that route to purchase which is a complete disaster," Saxton said.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
“Today we celebrate the greatest story ever told, the foundation of our faith, and the abiding hope of all mankind,” read the opening sentence of the Easter email.
From Salon ● May 25, 2026
Up in Quincy, Abigail reiterated her abiding sense that Jefferson could be trusted to recover his earlier intimacy with her husband.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
