abide

[ uh-bahyd ]
See synonyms for abide on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object),a·bode or a·bid·ed, a·bid·ing.
  1. to remain; continue; stay: Abide with me.

  2. to have one's abode; dwell; reside: to abide in a small Scottish village.

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

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!

  2. to endure, sustain, or withstand without yielding or submitting: to abide a vigorous onslaught.

  1. to wait for; await: to abide the coming of the Lord.

  2. to accept without opposition or question: to abide the verdict of the judges.

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

Verb Phrases
  1. abide by,

    • to act in accord with.

    • to submit to; agree to: to abide by the court's decision.

    • to remain steadfast or faithful to; keep: If you make a promise, abide by it.

Origin of abide

1
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

Other words for abide

Other words from abide

  • a·bid·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use abide in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for abide

abide

/ (əˈbaɪd) /


verbabides, abiding, abode or abided
  1. (tr) to tolerate; put up with

  2. (tr) to accept or submit to; suffer: to abide the court's decision

  1. (intr foll by by)

    • to comply (with): to abide by the decision

    • to remain faithful (to): to abide by your promise

  2. (intr) to remain or continue

  3. (intr) archaic to dwell

  4. (tr) archaic to await in expectation

  5. (tr) archaic to withstand or sustain; endure: to abide the onslaught

Origin of abide

1
Old English ābīdan, from a- (intensive) + bīdan to wait, bide

Derived forms of abide

  • abidance, noun
  • abider, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with abide

abide

In addition to the idioms beginning with abide

  • abide by

also see:

  • can't stand (abide)

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.