Abides — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ə-ˈbīd/

Meaning & Definition of Abides

Abides (verb)

  1. to bear patiently, tolerate
  2. to endure without yielding, withstand
  3. to wait for, await
  4. to accept or conform to without objection

Abides (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time

    "refused to abide where it was clear that he wasn't wanted"

    similar: dwells, hangs around, remains, stays, sticks around, tarries
    related: awaits, hangs on, holds on, waits, dallies, dawdles, lingers, loiters, outstays, overstays
    opposite: bails, bails out, bugs out, buzzes (off), clears off (chiefly British), clears out, cuts out, departs, exits, gets off, goes, goes off, leaves, moves, packs (up or off), peels off, pikes (out or off), pulls out, pushes off, pushes on, quits, shoves (off), takes off, vamooses, walks out
    near: absconds, books (slang), decamps, escapes, evacuates, flees, flies, gets out, runs away, scats, scrams, skips, abandons, deserts, forsakes, vacates

  2. to have a home

    "the charming fantasy that fairies abide in the cup-shaped flowers dotting the woodland floor"

    similar: dwells, lives, resides
    related: lodges, settles, stays, frequents, hangs (at), haunts, visits, cohabits, inhabits, occupies, peoples, populates, leases, rents, sublets, tenants

  3. to put up with (something painful or difficult)

    "cannot abide being in huge crowds"

    similar: absorbs, accepts, bears, bides (chiefly dialect), brooks, countenances, endures, goes, hacks, handles, meets, pockets, stands, sticks out, stomachs, supports, sustains, sweats out, takes, tolerates, wears (British), lives with, lumps (it), stands for, toughs it out
    related: allows, permits, suffers, swallows, reconciles (to), acquiesces, agrees (with or to), assents (to), capitulates, consents (to), respects, submits (to), yields (to)
    near: declines, dismisses, refuses, rejects, repudiates, spurns, turns down, combats, contests, fights, opposes, resists, avoids, bypasses, circumvents, dodges, eludes, escapes, evades, misses, abstains (from), forbears, refrains (from)

  4. to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state

    "the village's once-honored ways no longer abide and now exist only in the memories of a few elders"

    similar: bides, continues, endures, holds on, holds up, keeps up, lasts, perdures, persists, remains, runs on
    related: lingers, stays, sticks around, tarries, carries through, prevails, survives
    opposite: ceases, closes, concludes, desists, dies, discontinues, ends, expires, finishes, lapses, leaves off, passes, quits, stops, terminates, winds up
    near: abates, dies (down), ebbs, lets up, moderates, subsides, wanes

Related Entry: Abide (verb)

Abide is a different word from Abides. The synonyms below are for abide, not for abides.

  1. to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time

    "refused to abide where it was clear that he wasn't wanted"

    similar: dwell, hang around, remain, stay, stick around, tarry
    related: await, hang on, hold on, wait, dally, dawdle, linger, loiter, outstay, overstay
    opposite: bail, bail out, bug out, buzz (off), clear off (chiefly British), clear out, cut out, depart, exit, get off, go, go off, leave, move, pack (up or off), peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, quit, shove (off), take off, vamoose, walk out
    near: abscond, book (slang), decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, run away, scat, scram, skip, abandon, desert, forsake, vacate

  2. to have a home

    "the charming fantasy that fairies abide in the cup-shaped flowers dotting the woodland floor"

    similar: dwell, live, reside
    related: lodge, settle, stay, frequent, hang (at), haunt, visit, cohabit, inhabit, occupy, people, populate, lease, rent, sublet, tenant

  3. to put up with (something painful or difficult)

    "cannot abide being in huge crowds"

    similar: absorb, accept, bear, bide (chiefly dialect), brook, countenance, endure, go, hack, handle, meet, pocket, stand, stick out, stomach, support, sustain, sweat out, take, tolerate, wear (British), live with, lump (it), stand for, tough it out
    related: allow, permit, suffer, swallow, reconcile (to), acquiesce, agree (with or to), assent (to), capitulate, consent (to), respect, submit (to), yield (to)
    near: decline, dismiss, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn, turn down, combat, contest, fight, oppose, resist, avoid, bypass, circumvent, dodge, elude, escape, evade, miss, abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from)

  4. to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state

    "the village's once-honored ways no longer abide and now exist only in the memories of a few elders"

    similar: bide, continue, endure, hold on, hold up, keep up, last, perdure, persist, remain, run on
    related: linger, stay, stick around, tarry, carry through, prevail, survive
    opposite: cease, close, conclude, desist, die, discontinue, end, expire, finish, lapse, leave off, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up
    near: abate, die (down), ebb, let up, moderate, subside, wane

Related Entry: Abides (beyond) (verb)

Abides (beyond) is a different word from Abides. The synonyms below are for abides (beyond), not for abides.

  1. as in lasts (beyond), persists (beyond)

    similar: endures (past), holds (past), holds out (past), lasts (beyond), persists (beyond), outstays, draws out, perpetuates, survives, succeeds, outlasts, outlives, outwears

Related Entry: Abides by (phrase)

Abides by is a different word from Abides. The synonyms below are for abides by, not for abides.

  1. to act according to the commands of

    "You can stay here, but you'll need to abide by the house rules."

    similar: adheres (to), complies (with), conforms (to), follows, goose-steps (to), minds, obeys, observes, falls in with, keeps to
    related: defers (to), submits (to), surrenders (to), yields (to), accedes (to), acquiesces (to), agrees (to), assents (to), attends, hears, heeds, listens (to), marks, notes, notices, regards, takes, watches
    opposite: defies, disobeys, rebels (against)
    near: disobliges, challenges, dares, refuses, renounces, repudiates, directs, leads, brushes (off), disregards, ignores, overlooks, overpasses, passes over, tunes out, winks (at), dismisses, pooh-poohs, shrugs off, breaches, breaks, infringes, transgresses, violates, derides, flouts, mocks, scoffs (at), scorns, mutinies (against), revolts (against), bucks, combats, contests, disputes, fights, opposes, resists, withstands

  2. to do what is required by the terms of

    "She abided by their agreement to head home early."

    similar: answers, completes, complies (with), fills, fulfills, keeps, meets, redeems, satisfies, makes good
    related: concludes, consummates, finalizes, finishes, perfects, accomplishes, achieves, brings about, brings off, carries out, effects, commits, compasses, discharges, executes, follows through (with), makes, performs
    opposite: breaches, breaks, transgresses, violates
    near: defaults (on), disregards, forgets, ignores, neglects, overlooks, overpasses, passes over, slights

  3. to give steadfast support to

    "He abides by the city's efforts to improve public transportation."

    similar: adheres (to), clings (to), hews (to), keeps (to), stands by, sticks (to or with), holds to, lives up to
    related: cleaves (to), advocates, backs, champions, confirms, defends, endorses, espouses, supports, upholds, accepts, adopts, cherishes, cultivates, embraces, follows, fosters, heeds, backstops, bolsters, boosts, buttresses, enforces, reinforces
    opposite: defects (from)
    near: abandons, abnegates, deserts, forsakes, gives up, relinquishes, spurns, surrenders, abjures, recalls, recants, reconsiders, reneges, renounces, retracts, revokes, takes back, unsays, withdraws, controverts, disagrees (with), disproves, disputes, rebuts, refutes, contradicts, denies, disavows, disclaims, disowns, gainsays, negates, negatives, repudiates, backs down, backs off, backtracks

Related Entry: Abide by (phrase)

Abide by is a different word from Abides. The synonyms below are for abide by, not for abides.

  1. to act according to the commands of

    "You can stay here, but you'll need to abide by the house rules."

    similar: adhere (to), comply (with), conform (to), follow, goose-step (to), mind, obey, observe, fall in with, keep to
    related: defer (to), submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to), accede (to), acquiesce (to), agree (to), assent (to), attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, take, watch
    opposite: defy, disobey, rebel (against)
    near: disoblige, challenge, dare, refuse, renounce, repudiate, direct, lead, brush (off), disregard, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, tune out, wink (at), dismiss, pooh-pooh, shrug off, breach, break, infringe, transgress, violate, deride, flout, mock, scoff (at), scorn, mutiny (against), revolt (against), buck, combat, contest, dispute, fight, oppose, resist, withstand

  2. to do what is required by the terms of

    "She abided by their agreement to head home early."

    similar: answer, complete, comply (with), fill, fulfill, keep, meet, redeem, satisfy, make good
    related: conclude, consummate, finalize, finish, perfect, accomplish, achieve, bring about, bring off, carry out, effect, commit, compass, discharge, execute, follow through (with), make, perform
    opposite: breach, break, transgress, violate
    near: default (on), disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight

  3. to give steadfast support to

    "He abides by the city's efforts to improve public transportation."

    similar: adhere (to), cling (to), hew (to), keep (to), stand by, stick (to or with), hold to, live up to
    related: cleave (to), advocate, back, champion, confirm, defend, endorse, espouse, support, uphold, accept, adopt, cherish, cultivate, embrace, follow, foster, heed, backstop, bolster, boost, buttress, enforce, reinforce
    opposite: defect (from)
    near: abandon, abnegate, desert, forsake, give up, relinquish, spurn, surrender, abjure, recall, recant, reconsider, renege, renounce, retract, revoke, take back, unsay, withdraw, controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute, contradict, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, gainsay, negate, negative, repudiate, back down, back off, backtrack

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Abides

The most common words with a similar meaning to Abides:

Chiefly dialect: bides
British: wears
dwells, hangs around, remains, stays, sticks around, tarries, lives, resides, absorbs, accepts, bears, brooks, countenances, endures, goes, hacks, handles, meets, pockets, stands, sticks out, stomachs, supports, sustains, sweats out, takes, tolerates, continues, holds on, holds up, keeps up, lasts, perdures, persists, runs on, lives with, lumps (it), stands for, toughs it out

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Abides

Words with the opposite meaning of Abides:

bails, bails out, bugs out, buzzes (off), clears off, clears out, cuts out, departs, exits, gets off, goes, goes off, leaves, moves, packs (up or off), peels off, pikes (out or off), pulls out, pushes off, pushes on, quits, shoves (off), takes off, vamooses, walks out, ceases, closes, concludes, desists, dies

Related Words for Abides

awaits, hangs on, waits, dallies, dawdles, lingers, loiters, outstays, overstays, lodges, settles, frequents, hangs (at), haunts, visits, cohabits, inhabits, occupies, peoples, populates, leases, rents, sublets, tenants, allows, permits, suffers, swallows, reconciles (to), acquiesces

Near Antonyms of Abides

absconds, books, decamps, escapes, evacuates, flees, flies, gets out, runs away, scats, scrams, skips, abandons, deserts, forsakes, vacates, declines, dismisses, refuses, rejects, repudiates, spurns, turns down, combats, contests, fights, opposes, resists, avoids, bypasses

Word Forms of Abides

Inflections: abided, abode, abiding, abided by, abiding by, abides by

Derived words: abider (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Abides

Middle English abiden, going back to Old English abīdan, from a-, perfective prefix + bīdan "to bide, wait"; a- (also ā-, ǣ- under stress in nominal derivatives) akin to Old Frisian a-, perfective prefix, Old Saxon ā-, ō- (unstressed a-) and probably to Old English or- "outward, extreme, lacking (in nominal compounds)," Old Frisian & Old Saxon ur-, or-, Old High German ar-, ir-, er- unstressed inchoative verb prefix, ur "out of, away from," Old Norse ūr-, ör-, "out of, from," ør-, privative prefix, Gothic us- "out of," us-, privative and perfective prefix; if from pre-Germanic *ud-s- akin to Old English ūt "out" out:1, bide

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Abides

What does "Abides" mean?

"Abides" means to bear patiently, tolerate. As a verb, it is defined as: to bear patiently, tolerate. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Abides"?

Other words for "Abides" include dwells, hangs around, remains, stays, sticks around, tarries, lives and resides. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Abides" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Abides"?

There are 81 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Abides". Common alternatives include dwells, hangs around, remains, stays, sticks around, tarries, lives, resides, absorbs and accepts.

What is the opposite of "Abides"?

Antonyms of "Abides" include bails, bails out, bugs out, buzzes (off), clears off, clears out, cuts out and departs. Near antonyms include absconds, books, decamps and escapes.

How do you use "Abides" in a sentence?

Examples of "Abides" in a sentence: "refused to abide where it was clear that he wasn't wanted"; "the charming fantasy that fairies abide in the cup-shaped flowers dotting the woodland floor"; "cannot abide being in huge crowds".

Is "Abides" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Abides" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Abides"?

"Abides" is pronounced /ə-ˈbīd/.

What is the origin of the word "Abides"?

"Abides" comes from Middle English abiden, going back to Old English abīdan, from a-, perfective prefix + bīdan "to bide, wait"; a- (also ā-, ǣ- under stress in nominal derivatives) akin to Old Frisian a-, perfective prefix, Old Saxon ā-, ō- (unstressed a-) and probably to Old English or- "outward, extreme, lacking (in nominal compounds)," Old Frisian & Old Saxon ur-, or-, Old High German ar-, ir-, er- unstressed inchoative verb prefix, ur "out of, away from," Old Norse ūr-, ör-, "out of, from," ør-, privative prefix, Gothic us- "out of," us-, privative and perfective prefix; if from pre-Germanic *ud-s- akin to Old English ūt "out" out:1, bide. First known use: before 12th centuryt.