bide

American  

[bahyd] / baɪd /

verb (used with object)

bided, bode, bided, bid, biding

1. Archaic. to endure; bear.

2. Obsolete. to encounter.

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verb (used without object)

bided, bode, bided, bid, biding

1. to dwell; abide; wait; remain.

   Synonyms:

   tarry, linger, stay

idioms

1. bide one's time, to wait for a favorable opportunity.

   He wanted to ask for a raise, but bided his time.

bide British  

/ baɪd /

verb

1. archaic (intr) to continue in a certain place or state; stay

2. archaic (intr) to live; dwell

3. archaic (tr) to tolerate; endure

4. to stay a little

5. to abide by

6. to wait patiently for an opportunity

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Other Word Forms

• bider noun

Etymology

Origin of bide

before 900; Middle English biden, Old English bīdan; cognate with Old Frisian bīdia, Old Saxon bīdan, Old High German bītan, Old Norse bītha, Gothic beidan, Latin fīdere, Greek peíthesthai to trust, rely < Indo-European *bheidh-; the meaning apparently developed: have trust > endure > wait > abide > remain

Example Sentences

Most private tech companies—many that have spent years biding their time—will be forced to keep waiting it out.

From The Wall Street Journal

Skaters bide their time in a peloton—before trying to break away from the bunch with a decisive burst.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jonah couldn’t tell if they were still dazed, or if they were faking it, biding their time.

From Literature

Muddy Waters’ CEO Carson Block says investors need to bide their time before trying to short the AI revolution.

From The Wall Street Journal

I dared not tease her because she’d only tease me back about Kekeli, but I smiled to myself and bided my time.

From Literature

Related Words

• dwell
• sit tight
• stick around