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

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."

To tolerate or put up with something, especially in negative statements.

"He can't abide people who chew with their mouths open."

(literary) To remain or continue in a place; to stay.

"The old house has abided through three centuries of storms."

How to Use Abide

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word Forms

abode past tense, abided past tense, abid past tense, abidden past tense, abides singular

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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."

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for abide

ide tide hide ride wide side bide aide FIDE slide bride guide

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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").

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Vocabulary lists that include abide:

Words With Old & Middle English Origins