Bide — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈbīd/

Meaning & Definition of Bide

Bide (verb)

  1. to wait for —used chiefly in the phrase bide one's time
  2. withstand
  3. to put up with, tolerate

Bide (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "how long are you going to bide in this unhappy marriage?"

    similar: abide, 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

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

    "at my advanced age I simply cannot bide young children"

    similar: abide, absorb, accept, bear, 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)

  3. to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something

    "I promise you that if you bide yet a little longer, all will come to pass just as you desire"

    similar: await, hold on, stay, wait, bide one's time, cool one's heels, hold one's breath, sit tight
    related: hang around, linger, remain, stick around, tarry, stand by, anticipate, expect, watch (for)

Related Entry: Bide one's time (phrase)

Bide one's time is a different word from Bide. The synonyms below are for bide one's time, not for bide.

  1. to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something

    "decided to bide her time until she had an opportunity to switch jobs"

    similar: await, bide, hold on, stay, wait, cool one's heels, hold one's breath, sit tight
    related: hang around, linger, remain, stick around, tarry, stand by, anticipate, expect, watch (for)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bide

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bide:

British: wear
abide, continue, endure, hold on, hold up, keep up, last, perdure, persist, remain, run on, absorb, accept, bear, brook, countenance, go, hack, handle, meet, pocket, stand, stick out, stomach, support, sustain, sweat out, take, tolerate, await, stay, wait, live with, lump (it), stand for, tough it out, bide one's time, cool one's heels, hold one's breath, sit tight

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Bide

Words with the opposite meaning of Bide:

cease, close, conclude, desist, die, discontinue, end, expire, finish, lapse, leave off, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up

Related Words for Bide

linger, stick around, tarry, carry through, prevail, survive, allow, permit, suffer, swallow, reconcile (to), acquiesce, agree (with or to), assent (to), capitulate, consent (to), respect, submit (to), yield (to), hang around, stand by, anticipate, expect, watch (for)

Near Antonyms of Bide

abate, die (down), ebb, let up, moderate, subside, wane, 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)

Word Forms of Bide

Inflections: bode, bided, biding

Derived words: bider (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Bide

Middle English biden "to stay, linger, wait expectantly, hope for, undergo," going back to Old English bīdan, past bād, bidon, past participle biden, going back to Germanic *bīðan- (whence also Old Saxon bīdan "to wait, stand ready, hold out," Old High German bītan "to wait, expect," Old Norse bíða "to wait for, suffer, undergo," Gothic beidan "to wait for, endure"), perhaps going back to Indo-European *bhei̯d- "entrust, trust" faith:1

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Bide

What does "Bide" mean?

"Bide" means to wait for —used chiefly in the phrase bide one's time. As a verb, it is defined as: to wait for —used chiefly in the phrase bide one's time. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bide"?

Other words for "Bide" include abide, continue, endure, hold on, hold up, keep up, last and perdure. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bide" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bide"?

There are 65 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bide". Common alternatives include abide, continue, endure, hold on, hold up, keep up, last, perdure, persist and remain.

What is the opposite of "Bide"?

Antonyms of "Bide" include cease, close, conclude, desist, die, discontinue, end and expire. Near antonyms include abate, die (down), ebb and let up.

How do you use "Bide" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bide" in a sentence: "how long are you going to bide in this unhappy marriage?"; "at my advanced age I simply cannot bide young children"; "I promise you that if you bide yet a little longer, all will come to pass just as you desire".

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

"Bide" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Bide"?

"Bide" is pronounced /ˈbīd/.

What is the origin of the word "Bide"?

"Bide" comes from Middle English biden "to stay, linger, wait expectantly, hope for, undergo," going back to Old English bīdan, past bād, bidon, past participle biden, going back to Germanic *bīðan- (whence also Old Saxon bīdan "to wait, stand ready, hold out," Old High German bītan "to wait, expect," Old Norse bíða "to wait for, suffer, undergo," Gothic beidan "to wait for, endure"), perhaps going back to Indo-European *bhei̯d- "entrust, trust" faith:1. First known use: before 12th centuryt.