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

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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

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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

Together, the findings provide a more detailed understanding of how pancreatic tumors evolve, resist treatment, and spread.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 25, 2026

Please resist the urge to look back at, say, the 2016 Audi S4, which was positioned roughly equivalent to our test car.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026

Jeremy Vernon, 51, said despite having his kidney removed due to cancer he could not resist clearing neglected paths in his free time and it had made him a hit on social media.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026

It’s the reason they are often used for packaging, and why they so stubbornly resist biodegradation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

“Perhaps Lady Constance will not be the only surprise to tumble out of the Ashton family ‘tree,’” she thought, unable to resist a leafy pun of her own.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Viscosity describes how strongly a fluid resists flowing.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026

He resists Anna Magdalena’s urgent pleading that he accede to the invitation from Frederick to visit him at his Potsdam court.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

The father resists but the son is now curious.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

Roberts’ opinion for the court, despite being well-written and legally correct, resists critiquing the original order with the forcefulness this issue deserves.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

Bailey only hesitates for a moment, and he resists the urge to close his eyes as he leaps.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

After his trade to Toronto went through on Sept. 23, the Clippers resisted posting the “Thank You, Kawhi” graphic that pro sports teams do when they part ways with a player.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

They had resisted doing so earlier in the session and when Harmer was bowled by Marnus Labuschagne a ball before the Bavuma wicket.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

Binghamton largely resisted the effects of the depression.

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026

Trautman never flagged in his struggles with distribution, wartime shortages, congressional interference and intransigent publishers, who first resisted paperbacks and then the notion that they should provide books—at cost—as part of the war effort.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Planting trees that resisted burning and didn’t require too much water.

From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate

In addition to resisting excess fat accumulation, they experienced favorable changes in their overall body composition.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026

She is filming the scene in a busy Baghdad street on her phone, and the camera captures him resisting her attempts to open the door as she confronts him.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Sara Serfaty, 25, grew up in New York with Moroccan Jewish parents and spent years resisting the idea that Israel could be home.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

“Both of us have been resisting the idea that ‘grief is love with nowhere to go’ and instead, actively putting our grief, our love, into our art,” Falley said in an email exchange.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

When the monster held Harry’s arm behind his back, Conor had felt Harry’s muscles resisting.

From "A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness

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Related Words

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

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