Abiding — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ə-ˈbī-diŋ/ abid·ing

Meaning & Definition of Abiding

Abiding (adjective)

  1. continuing for a long time, enduring

Abiding (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having an existence or validity that does not change or diminish

    "I have an abiding interest in animal welfare—it's not just a phase I'm going through"

    similar: ageless, continuing, dateless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, imperishable, lasting, ongoing, perennial, perpetual, timeless, undying
    related: ceaseless, endless, permanent, changeless, constant, stable, stationary, steady, unchanging, unvarying
    near: antiquated, archaic, dated, obsolete, outdated, outmoded, out-of-date, outworn, passé

Abiding (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: dwelling, hanging around, remaining, staying, sticking around, tarrying
    related: awaiting, hanging on, holding on, waiting, dallying, dawdling, lingering, loitering, outstaying, overstaying
    opposite: bailing, bailing out, bugging out, buzzing (off), clearing off (chiefly British), clearing out, cutting out, departing, exiting, getting off, going, going off, leaving, moving, packing (up or off), peeling off, piking (out or off), pulling out, pushing off, pushing on, quitting, shoving (off), taking off, vamoosing, walking out
    near: absconding, booking (slang), decamping, escaping, evacuating, fleeing, flying, getting out, running away, scatting, scramming, skipping, abandoning, deserting, forsaking, vacating

  2. to have a home

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

    similar: dwelling, living, residing
    related: lodging, settling, staying, frequenting, hanging (at), haunting, visiting, cohabiting, inhabiting, occupying, peopling, populating, leasing, renting, subletting, tenanting

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

    "cannot abide being in huge crowds"

    similar: absorbing, accepting, bearing, biding (chiefly dialect), brooking, countenancing, enduring, going, hacking, handling, meeting, pocketing, standing, sticking out, stomaching, supporting, sustaining, sweating out, taking, tolerating, wearing (British), living with, lumping (it), standing for, toughing it out
    related: allowing, permitting, suffering, swallowing, reconciling (to), acquiescing, agreeing (with or to), assenting (to), capitulating, consenting (to), respecting, submitting (to), yielding (to)
    near: declining, dismissing, refusing, rejecting, repudiating, spurning, turning down, combating, contesting, fighting, opposing, resisting, avoiding, bypassing, circumventing, dodging, eluding, escaping, evading, missing, abstaining (from), forbearing, refraining (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: biding, continuing, enduring, holding on, holding up, keeping up, lasting, perduring, persisting, remaining, running on
    related: lingering, staying, sticking around, tarrying, carrying through, prevailing, surviving
    opposite: ceasing, closing, concluding, desisting, discontinuing, dying, ending, expiring, finishing, lapsing, leaving off, passing, quitting, stopping, terminating, winding up
    near: abating, dying (down), ebbing, letting up, moderating, subsiding, waning

Related Entry: Abide (verb)

Abide is a different word from Abiding. The synonyms below are for abide, not for abiding.

  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: Abiding (beyond) (verb)

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

  1. as in lasting (beyond), persisting (beyond)

    similar: enduring (past), holding (past), holding out (past), lasting (beyond), persisting (beyond), outstaying, drawing out, perpetuating, surviving, succeeding, outlasting, outliving, outwearing

Related Entry: Abiding by (phrase)

Abiding by is a different word from Abiding. The synonyms below are for abiding by, not for abiding.

  1. to act according to the commands of

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

    similar: adhering (to), complying (with), conforming (to), following, goose-stepping (to), minding, obeying, observing, falling in with, keeping to
    related: deferring (to), submitting (to), surrendering (to), yielding (to), acceding (to), acquiescing (to), agreeing (to), assenting (to), attending, hearing, heeding, listening (to), marking, noticing, noting, regarding, taking, watching
    opposite: defying, disobeying, rebelling (against)
    near: disobliging, challenging, daring, refusing, renouncing, repudiating, directing, leading, brushing (off), disregarding, ignoring, overlooking, overpassing, passing over, tuning out, winking (at), dismissing, pooh-poohing, shrugging off, breaching, breaking, infringing, transgressing, violating, deriding, flouting, mocking, scoffing (at), scorning, mutinying (against), revolting (against), bucking, combating, contesting, disputing, fighting, opposing, resisting, withstanding

  2. to do what is required by the terms of

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

    similar: answering, completing, complying (with), filling, fulfilling, keeping, meeting, redeeming, satisfying, making good
    related: concluding, consummating, finalizing, finishing, perfecting, accomplishing, achieving, bringing about, bringing off, carrying out, effecting, committing, compassing, discharging, executing, following through (with), making, performing
    opposite: breaching, breaking, transgressing, violating
    near: defaulting (on), disregarding, forgetting, ignoring, neglecting, overlooking, overpassing, passing over, slighting

  3. to give steadfast support to

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

    similar: adhering (to), clinging (to), hewing (to), keeping (to), standing by, sticking (to or with), holding to, living up to
    related: cleaving (to), advocating, backing, championing, confirming, defending, endorsing, espousing, supporting, upholding, accepting, adopting, cherishing, cultivating, embracing, following, fostering, heeding, backstopping, bolstering, boosting, buttressing, enforcing, reinforcing
    opposite: defecting (from)
    near: abandoning, abnegating, deserting, forsaking, giving up, relinquishing, spurning, surrendering, abjuring, recalling, recanting, reconsidering, reneging, renouncing, retracting, revoking, taking back, unsaying, withdrawing, controverting, disagreeing (with), disproving, disputing, rebutting, refuting, contradicting, denying, disavowing, disclaiming, disowning, gainsaying, negating, negativing, repudiating, backing down, backing off, backtracking

Related Entry: Law-abiding (adjective)

Law-abiding is a different word from Abiding. The synonyms below are for law-abiding, not for abiding.

  1. readily giving in to the command or authority of another

    "the law-abiding citizens of the neighborhood did everything they could to help reduce street crime"

    similar: amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, submissive, tractable
    related: acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, duteous, dutiful, obliging, placable, soft, surrendering, yielding, fawning, kowtowing, obeisant, obsequious, servile, slavish, subordinate, subservient, decorous, disciplined, mannerly, orderly, constrained, curbed, inhibited, repressed, restrained, controllable, disciplinable, governable, handleable, manageable, tame, teachable, trainable, gentle, meek, mild
    opposite: balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, noncompliant, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, restive, unamenable, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, wayward, willful
    near: insurgent, mutinous, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, peevish, pigheaded, self-willed, stubborn, unyielding, uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild, balky, defiant, perverse, resistant, bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, naughty, ill-bred, undisciplined, dissident, nonconformist, disrespectful, ill-mannered, impolite, impudent, insolent, rude

Related Entry: Abide by (phrase)

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

  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 Abiding

The most common words with a similar meaning to Abiding:

Chiefly dialect: biding
British: wearing
ageless, continuing, dateless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, imperishable, lasting, ongoing, perennial, perpetual, timeless, undying, dwelling, hanging around, remaining, staying, sticking around, tarrying, living, residing, absorbing, accepting, bearing, brooking, countenancing, going, hacking, handling, meeting, pocketing, standing, sticking out, stomaching, supporting, sustaining, sweating out, taking, tolerating

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Abiding

Words with the opposite meaning of Abiding:

bailing, bailing out, bugging out, buzzing (off), clearing off, clearing out, cutting out, departing, exiting, getting off, going, going off, leaving, moving, packing (up or off), peeling off, piking (out or off), pulling out, pushing off, pushing on, quitting, shoving (off), taking off, vamoosing, walking out, ceasing, closing, concluding, desisting, discontinuing

Related Words for Abiding

ceaseless, endless, permanent, changeless, constant, stable, stationary, steady, unchanging, unvarying, awaiting, hanging on, waiting, dallying, dawdling, lingering, loitering, outstaying, overstaying, lodging, settling, frequenting, hanging (at), haunting, visiting, cohabiting, inhabiting, occupying, peopling, populating

Near Antonyms of Abiding

antiquated, archaic, dated, obsolete, outdated, outmoded, out-of-date, outworn, passé, absconding, booking, decamping, escaping, evacuating, fleeing, flying, getting out, running away, scatting, scramming, skipping, abandoning, deserting, forsaking, vacating, declining, dismissing, refusing, rejecting, repudiating

Word Forms of Abiding

Derived words: abidingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Abiding

Middle English abydynge, from present participle of abiden "to abide"

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Abiding

Words & Phrases Containing Abiding

law-abiding

Frequently Asked Questions about Abiding

What does "Abiding" mean?

"Abiding" means continuing for a long time, enduring. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: continuing for a long time, enduring. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Abiding"?

Other words for "Abiding" include ageless, continuing, dateless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal and imperishable. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Abiding" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Abiding"?

There are 102 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Abiding". Common alternatives include ageless, continuing, dateless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, imperishable, lasting and ongoing.

What is the opposite of "Abiding"?

Antonyms of "Abiding" include bailing, bailing out, bugging out, buzzing (off), clearing off, clearing out, cutting out and departing. Near antonyms include antiquated, archaic, dated and obsolete.

How do you use "Abiding" in a sentence?

Examples of "Abiding" in a sentence: "I have an abiding interest in animal welfare—it's not just a phase I'm going through"; "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".

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

"Abiding" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Abiding" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Abiding" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Abiding"?

"Abiding" is pronounced /ə-ˈbī-diŋ/ and divided into syllables as abid·ing.