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.
-
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
-
(tr) to refrain from, esp in spite of temptation (esp in the phrases cannot or could not resist ( something ))
noun
Related Words
See oppose.
Other Word Forms
- interresist verb
- nonresisting adjective
- overresist verb
- quasi-resisted adjective
- resister noun
- resistibility noun
- resistible adjective
- resistibly adverb
- resistingly adverb
- unresisted adjective
- unresisting adjective
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”; re-, stand
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.
But as they face financial liabilities and a wave of boomer retirements, it’s a temptation to resist.
Coskun, who has been provided accommodation by the Home Office since his protest because of threats made to him, resisted the legal challenge and attended the hearing in London.
From BBC
Their chemical structure is built on extremely strong molecular bonds, allowing them to resist breaking down in the environment.
From Science Daily
Even better, the tale included pretty young women, a mysterious murder, and the possibility of scandal—all elements that the reading public couldn’t resist.
From Literature
In simple terms, each photon can carry more information and resist interference more effectively.
From Science Daily
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.
