resist

American  

[ri-zist] / rɪˈzɪst /

verb (used with object)

• resists,
  present (3rd person singular)
• resisted,
  past participle,  past
• resisting
  present participle

1. to withstand, strive against, or oppose.

   to resist infection; to resist temptation.

   Synonyms:

   rebuff, counteract, confront

2. to withstand the action or effect of.

   to resist spoilage.

3. to refrain or abstain from, especially with difficulty or reluctance.

   They couldn't resist the chocolates.

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verb (used without object)

• resists,
  present (3rd person singular)
• resisted,
  past participle,  past
• resisting
  present participle

1. to make a stand or make efforts in opposition; act in opposition; offer resistance.

noun

1. a substance that prevents or inhibits some effect from taking place, as a coating on a surface of a metallic printing plate that prevents or inhibits corrosion of the metal by acid.

2. Textiles. a chemically inert substance used in resist printing.

resist British  

/ rɪˈzɪst /

verb

1. to stand firm (against); not yield (to); fight (against)

2. (tr) to withstand the deleterious action of; be proof against

   to resist corrosion

3. (tr) to oppose; refuse to accept or comply with

   to resist arrest

   to resist the introduction of new technology

4. (tr) to refrain from, esp in spite of temptation (esp in the phrases cannot or could not resist ( something ))

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noun

1. a substance used to protect something, esp a coating that prevents corrosion

Synonym Usage

See oppose.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• resister
  noun
• resistibility
  noun
• interresist
  verb
• overresist
  verb
• nonresisting
  adjective
• quasi-resisted
  adjective
• resistible
  adjective
• unresisted
  adjective
• unresisting
  adjective
• resistibly
  adverb
• resistingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• resisting
  present
• resisted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• resist
  simple
• resists
  simple
• have resisted
  perfect
• has resisted
  perfect
• am resisting
  progressive
• are resisting
  progressive
• is resisting
  progressive
• have been resisting
  perfect progressive
• has been resisting
  perfect progressive

Past

• resisted
  simple
• had resisted
  perfect
• was resisting
  progressive
• were resisting
  progressive
• had been resisting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will resist
  simple
• will have resisted
  perfect
• will be resisting
  progressive
• will have been resisting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of resist

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English resisten (verb), from Latin resistere “to remain standing,” equivalent to re- “again, back” + sistere “to cause to stand,” akin to stāre “to stand”; see origin at re-, stand

Explanation

To resist something is to keep it at bay or to fend off its influence or advance. You might not be able to resist the temptation to sneak out to the dance in spite of your parents' objections. The verb resist comes from the Latin word resistere, meaning “to take a stand,” or “withstand.” People who are able to put up a wall — be it mental, physical, philosophical, emotional, or otherwise — to defend themselves or their group against a threat can be said to resist. The Amish community is still able to resist the influence of technology. Many a child will resist the suggestion to use a napkin. You might resist a second helping of pie.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

resist resists resisted resisting

The head of the IG Metall union on Friday sharply criticised management and promised to resist the factory closures.

From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026

Whether Chelsea resist City's interest and fully reintegrate Fernandez to the squad or whether they sell the midfielder is likely to be one of the themes of the final two weeks of the transfer window.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

He’s siding with delivery companies that prioritize rapid service over safety and resist accountability.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Really, what writer, no matter how detached from their past, could resist that kind of sweet talk?

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

I don’t even like milk, but I always end up drinking it at Twig’s house because Hélène insists “ze bones must grow, ze bones must grow,” and it’s impossible to resist.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller

Indeed, one of the striking features of the majority opinion is how persistently it resists artificial distinctions.

From Slate ● Jun. 29, 2026

The intimacy of life and work are everywhere in the canvases, but Vermeer’s “sea of signs,” as Mr. Graham-Dixon calls it, resists reduction to narrative certainty.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

In a news release, a museum spokesperson said Mull’s work “upsets any storybook picture of perfection” and resists nostalgia while acknowledging its allure.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

The goal: to build digital ecosystems that ensure Europe retains control over services and data, and resists foreign interference.

From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026

Yet the more attached Maria Isabel becomes to Jasmin, the more she resists leaving her.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

In 2017, when serving as Brown-Forman’s board chairman, he had resisted a takeover overture from Corona brewer Constellation Brands, signing a statement saying that Brown-Forman “was not for sale.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

Galperin said she has seen how creators of stalkerware have resisted changing their product function in favor of rewriting ad copy to say their software is meant for parents, employees or “building trust in relationships.”

From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026

“He has resisted that temptation so far,” O’Hanlon said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

This approach allowed immunotherapy to work against tumors that had previously resisted treatment.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026

It was the same point of view as Mauricio Babilonia's, but Meme resisted believing it because underneath it all she imagined that it had been inspired by the poor judgment of a mechanic.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Ahead of this 3-1 or 3-2 base, wingers are asked to stay high and wide, resisting the urge to leave their position.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

According to the watchdog group, officers sought charges against Ludwig even after they realized the mistake, booking him on charges of reckless driving and resisting arrest.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

Soriot built his name by resisting a megadeal once before.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

The bottom line: Give Cook credit for resisting the many calls over the last 15 years to respond to the latest fashion on Wall Street.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 2, 2026

By treating us with respect, Schindler was resisting the Nazi racist ideology that constructed a hierarchy of humanity in which Jews were at the very bottom.

From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson

Related Words

• abide
• combat
• confront
• continue
• curb
• defy
• endure
• forgo
• maintain
• prevent
• refuse
• repel
• thwart
• turn down