verb
Uncommon
abide
uh-BYD
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.”
verb
1
To accept and follow a rule, decision, or agreement (used with "by").
"All players must abide by the rules of the tournament."
"She agreed to abide by the judge's ruling."
"Tenants must abide by the building's rules about noise after ten at night."
2
To tolerate or put up with something, especially in negative statements.
"He can't abide people who chew with their mouths open."
"I can't abide the smell of boiled cabbage in the canteen."
"She couldn't abide waiting in queues, so she shopped online."
3
(literary) To remain or continue in a place; to stay.
"The old house has abided through three centuries of storms."
"The poet wrote that hope would abide in the heart through the darkest winter."
"Let the traveller abide here tonight, said the innkeeper."
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").
Common mistake
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."
Common pairings
abide by the rules
can't abide
abide by the decision
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- abides
- Past tense
- abode, abided, abid, abidden
Fill the gap
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
View more →Antonyms
Related words
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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