resist
Americanverb (used with object)
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to withstand, strive against, or oppose.
to resist infection; to resist temptation.
- Synonyms:
- rebuff, counteract, confront
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to withstand the action or effect of.
to resist spoilage.
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to refrain or abstain from, especially with difficulty or reluctance.
They couldn't resist the chocolates.
verb (used without object)
noun
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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.
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Textiles. a chemically inert substance used in resist printing.
verb
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to stand firm (against); not yield (to); fight (against)
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(tr) to withstand the deleterious action of; be proof against
to resist corrosion
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(tr) to oppose; refuse to accept or comply with
to resist arrest
to resist the introduction of new technology
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(tr) to refrain from, esp in spite of temptation (esp in the phrases cannot or could not resist ( something ))
noun
Synonym Usage
See oppose.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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resisternoun
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resistibilitynoun
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interresistverb
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overresistverb
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nonresistingadjective
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quasi-resistedadjective
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resistibleadjective
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unresistedadjective
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unresistingadjective
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resistiblyadverb
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resistinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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resistsimple
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resistssimple
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have resistedperfect
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has resistedperfect
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am resistingprogressive
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are resistingprogressive
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is resistingprogressive
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have been resistingperfect progressive
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has been resistingperfect progressive
Past
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resistedsimple
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had resistedperfect
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was resistingprogressive
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were resistingprogressive
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had been resistingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing resist
"The Civil Rights Movement"
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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.
“They assume that rural folk are dumb. They assume that rural folk are not going to resist, and they’re wrong.”
From Salon • Jul. 9, 2026
You can choose to resist or accept, but you will likely end up paying taxes on your Social Security benefits.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 8, 2026
"With the gift of Bellingham station on our network, we couldn't resist joining in on some World Cup fun," Thameslink said.
From BBC • Jul. 7, 2026
Services may only return on Wednesday, Endre Marton Laszlo, a local MP from the ruling Tisza party, told AFP, urging people "to use water sparingly" and to resist from "stockpiling water".
From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026
He didn’t resist the shiver that ran the length of him.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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.
