abide

UK: /əˈbaɪd/ US: /əˈbaɪd/ ,(ə bīd′)

Inflections of 'abide' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

abides

v 3rd person singular

abiding

v pres p

abided

v past

abode

v past

abided

v past p

abode

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

a•bide /əˈbaɪd/   v., a•bode /əˈboʊd/  or a•bid•ed, a•bid•ing. 

1. [no object] to remain;
   continue;
   stay:
   Abide with me.
2. [no object] to dwell;
   reside;
   have one's abode.
3. [~ + object* often with a negative word or phrase] to tolerate;
   
   can't abide dishonesty.
4. abide by, [ ~ + by + obj]
   • to comply with;
     agree to go along with: to abide by the court's decision.
   • to remain faithful to;
     keep: to abide by a promise.

a•bid•ance, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

a•bide  (ə bīd′), v., a•bode or a•bid•ed, a•bid•ing. 
v.i. 

1. to remain;
   continue;
   stay:
   Abide with me.
2. to have one's abode;
   dwell;
   reside:
   to abide in a small Scottish village.
3. to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship, etc.;
   last.

v.t. 

4. to put up with;
   tolerate;
   stand:
   I can't abide dishonesty!
5. to endure, sustain, or withstand without yielding or submitting:
   to abide a vigorous onslaught.
6. to wait for;
   await:
   to abide the coming of the Lord.
7. to accept without opposition or question:
   to abide the verdict of the judges.
8. to pay the price or penalty of;
   suffer for.
9. abide by:
   • to act in accord with.
   • to submit to;
     agree to:
     to abide by the court's decision.
   • to remain steadfast or faithful to;
     keep:
     If you make a promise, abide by it.

• bef. 1000; Middle English abiden, Old English ābīdan; cognate with Old High German irbītan await, Gothic usbeisns expectation, patience. See a-³, bide

a•bid′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. tarry.
• 2. live.
• 3. persevere, endure.
• 4. bear, endure, brook; support.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

abide / əˈbaɪd/ verb (abides, abiding, abode, abided)

1. (transitive) to tolerate; put up with
2. (transitive) to accept or submit to; suffer: to abide the court's decision
3. (intransitive) followed by by: to comply (with): to abide by the decision
4. to remain faithful (to): to abide by your promise
5. (intransitive) to remain or continue
6. (intransitive) to dwell
7. (transitive) to await in expectation

Etymology: Old English ābīdan, from a- (intensive) + bīdan to wait, bide

aˈbider noun