resist

UK: /rɪˈzɪst/ US: /rɪˈzɪst/ ,(ri zist′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•sist /rɪˈzɪst/   v. 

1. to withstand, fight, or work against;
   oppose: [~ + object]
   The armies resisted the invasion.
   [no object]
   The army was ordered to resist.
2. to withstand the action or effect of:
   [~ + object] The engine oil resists corrosion.
3. to keep or stop oneself from (doing) something: [~ + object]
   The kids couldn't resist the chocolates.
   [~ + verb-ing]
   They couldn't resist peeking under the curtain.

re•sist•er, n. [countable] See -sist-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•sist  (ri zist′), v.t. 

1. to withstand, strive against, or oppose:
   to resist infection; to resist temptation.
2. to withstand the action or effect of:
   to resist spoilage.
3. to refrain or abstain from, esp. with difficulty or reluctance:
   They couldn't resist the chocolates.

v.i. 

4. to make a stand or make efforts in opposition;
   act in opposition;
   offer resistance.

n. 

5. Chemistry 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.
6. Textiles a chemically inert substance used in resist printing.

• Latin resistere to remain standing, equivalent. to re- re- + sistere to cause to stand, akin to stāre to stand
• Middle English resisten (verb, verbal) 1325–75

re•sist′er, n. 
re•sist′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. confront, counteract, rebuff. See oppose. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

resist / rɪˈzɪst/ verb

1. to stand firm (against); not yield (to); fight (against)
2. (transitive) to withstand the deleterious action of; be proof against: to resist corrosion
3. (transitive) to oppose; refuse to accept or comply with: to resist arrest, to resist the introduction of new technology
4. (transitive) to refrain from, esp in spite of temptation (esp in the phrases cannotorcould not resist (something))

noun

1. a substance used to protect something, esp a coating that prevents corrosion

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin resistere to stand still, oppose, from re- + sistere to stand firm

reˈsistible adjective

reˌsistiˈbility noun

reˈsistibly adverb