abide
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
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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
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have abidedperfect
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has abodeperfect 3rd person singular
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have abodeperfect
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has abidedperfect 3rd person singular
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is abidingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am abidingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been abidingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been abidingperfect progressive
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abidingparticiple
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abidessingular 3rd person
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are abidingprogressive
Past
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had abidedperfect
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had abodeperfect
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were abidingprogressive plural
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was abidingprogressive singular
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abidedsimple
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abodesimple
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abodeparticiple
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abidedparticiple
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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.
It is the most popular game on earth because it asks for nothing but a ball and other people, and rewards what the strongman cannot abide: cooperation, trust, the surrender of the self.
From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026
“The Department will abide by the Court’s ruling.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026
In a statement on X, the Justice Department said it "disagrees strongly" with Brinkema's decision but "will abide by the court's ruling."
From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026
Antonelli drew a contrast between a pre-race conversation about the rules they had to abide by while racing with each other and what happened on track.
From BBC • May 23, 2026
Okay, to be honest, I can abide by the limitation of obviousness, but the “feels” part was a done deal as far as the Wild Boy of Bainbridge Island was concerned.
From "Winger" by Andrew Smith
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.
