abide by

Idioms  

1. Accept and act in accordance with a decision or set of rules; also, remain faithful to. For example, All members must agree to abide by the club regulations, or A trustworthy man abides by his word. An older sense of the verb abide, “remain,” is still familiar in the well-known 19th-century hymn “Abide with Me,” which asks God to stay with the singer in time of trouble. [Early 1500s]

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Example Sentences

While most tech companies have pledged to abide by Australian laws, they have warned that the heavy-handed move could simply push teens to darker, less-regulated corners of the internet.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

If she wishes to continue to receive your financial support, it makes sense that she should abide by your rules.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

Rules of engagement are typically in place to avoid unnecessary civilian casualties, abide by international law, and prevent friendly-fire incidents.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2026

Failure to abide by the rules could result in companies being fined up to 10% of their global sales or have their services blocked in the UK.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

When asked about it, Smith said, “Seabiscuit is Mr. Howard’s horse. I will abide by whatever decision Mr. Howard makes.”

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand