DEFINITIONS

resist

[ ri-zist ]
/ rɪˈzɪst /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR resist ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to withstand, strive against, or oppose: to resist infection; to resist temptation.
to withstand the action or effect of: to resist spoilage.
to refrain or abstain from, especially with difficulty or reluctance: They couldn't resist the chocolates.

verb (used without object)

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

noun

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

Content related to resist

Misleading Terms You’ve Been Using Wrong (For Good Reason)You might be surprised to learn there are quite a few of these not-so-nasty words that are desperate for some redemption.
READ MORE
Inertia vs. Momentum: Which Keeps You Moving?Science is real. Science is cool. Science uses a lot of terms that we all think we know. But, do we really know what we are talking about? In the spirit of scientific community and understanding, let's clear up one big scientific misconception that we all get wrong ...
READ MORE

Words related to resist

opposing, contrary, defiant, disobedient, rebellious, renitent, resistive, unyielding

Words nearby resist

resiniferous, resinify, resinoid, resinous, resipiscence, resist, resist printing, resistance, resistance level, resistance plasmid, resistance thermometer

Origin of resist

1325–75; Middle English resisten (v.) < Latin resistere to remain standing, equivalent to re- re- + sistere to cause to stand, akin to stāre to stand

OTHER WORDS FROM resist

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH resist

resister resistor
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for resisting

British Dictionary definitions for resisting

resist
/ (rɪˈzɪst) /

verb

to stand firm (against); not yield (to); fight (against)
(tr) to withstand the deleterious action of; be proof againstto resist corrosion
(tr) to oppose; refuse to accept or comply withto resist arrest; to resist the introduction of new technology
(tr) to refrain from, esp in spite of temptation (esp in the phrases cannot or could not resist (something))

noun

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

Derived forms of resist

resister, nounresistible, adjectiveresistibility, nounresistibly, adverb

Word Origin for resist

C14: from Latin resistere to stand still, oppose, from re- + sistere to stand firm
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012