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.
According to the authors, NO-Cbl may also help address several biological mechanisms that allow glioblastoma tumors to resist treatment.
From Science Daily • Jun. 27, 2026
In a recent opinion article in Time magazine, Torres, the economist, urged Havana to "resist the temptation to leap from bureaucratic centralism to a harsh, socially detached form of capitalism."
From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026
Local residents have turned out in force to resist the gargantuan installations — and their political leaders are listening.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026
But over nearly half a century the Islamic Republic's institutions have been engineered to resist attempts to destroy them.
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026
I'll find a way to resist like T did.
From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon
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.
