abide
Abide (verb) means to accept and follow a rule, decision, or agreement (used with "by"). Example: “All players must abide by the rules of the tournament.”
How to use abide
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often means to follow a rule ("abide by") or to tolerate something you dislike ("can't abide").
Needs "by" when it means to follow a rule: "abide by the law," not "abide the law." Without "by," it usually means to tolerate: "I can't abide rudeness."
Word forms
abode past tense, abided past tense, abid past tense, abidden past tense, abides singular
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Can you complete this real example?
All players must _____ by the rules of the tournament.
Etymology
From Old English abidan, "to wait, remain, endure," built from a- + bidan ("to wait, bide") — the same root as "bide" in "bide your time."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for abide
See all rhymes for abide →Frequently asked questions
What does “abide” mean?
The word “abide” means to accept and follow a rule, decision, or agreement (used with "by"). In plain terms, most often means to follow a rule ("abide by") or to tolerate something you dislike ("can't abide").
How do you pronounce “abide”?
“Abide” is pronounced uh-BYD (/əˈbaɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “abide” in a sentence?
Here is “abide” used in a sentence: “All players must abide by the rules of the tournament.”
What part of speech is “abide”?
“Abide” is a verb.
Where does the word “abide” come from?
The word “abide” comes from Old English. From Old English abidan, "to wait, remain, endure," built from a- + bidan ("to wait, bide") — the same root as "bide" in "bide your time.".
Is “abide” a common word?
“Abide” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “abide” have?
“Abide” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to accept and follow a rule, decision, or agreement (used with "by").
What is the difference between "abide" and "abide by"?
"Abide by" is used with a rule, decision, or agreement, meaning to accept and follow it, as in "abide by the contract." "Abide" without "by" is more often used to mean tolerating something or, in more literary usage, to remain or stay in a place.
What is the difference between abide and tolerate?
Abide and tolerate overlap closely when abide is used to mean putting up with something, especially in negative statements like "I can't abide dishonesty." Tolerate is the more neutral, general-purpose word, while abide in this sense tends to carry a stronger, more personal note of dislike.
Is abide an old-fashioned or literary word?
The sense of abide meaning "to remain or stay" is now considered literary and somewhat old-fashioned in everyday speech. The senses "abide by" and "can't abide" (meaning tolerate), however, remain common in modern English.
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