Abide Meaning
/əˈbaɪd/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo endure without yielding; to withstand.
verbTo bear patiently.
Sentence Examples
You should abide by the consequences.
I can't abide hearing you cry so bitterly.
CEFR Practice Quiz
All citizens must ____ by the laws of the country or face legal consequences for their actions.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You must ____ by the rules if you want to stay in the game.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English abyden, from Old English ābīdan (“to abide, wait, remain, delay, remain behind; survive; wait for, await; expect”), from Proto-West Germanic *uʀbīdan, from Proto-Germanic *uzbīdaną (“to expect, tolerate”), equivalent to a- + bide. Cognate with Scots abide (“to abide, remain”), Middle High German erbīten (“to await, expect”), Gothic 𐌿𐍃𐌱𐌴𐌹𐌳𐌰𐌽 (usbeidan, “to expect, await, have patience”). The sense of pay for is due to influence from aby.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"VVe will be Kings and Lords within our ſelues,
And not abide the pride of tyrranie."
— 1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], →OCLC, Act III:
"Neuer neuer: ſhe would alwayes ſay ſhee could not abide M[aster] Shallow."
— c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 87, column 2:
"We are vegetarian leaning, dislike smoking and alcohol, cannot abide drugs."
— 1978 December 2, “!HELP!! (personal advertisement)”, in Gay Community News, volume 6, number 19, page 14:
"By God sir. I will not abide another toe."
— 1998, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, The Big Lebowski (motion picture), spoken by The Big Lebowski (David Huddleston):
"Diſparage not the faith thou doſt not know, / Leſt to thy perill thou abide it deare."
— [c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 154, column 2:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
All citizens must ____ by the laws of the country or face legal consequences for their actions.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You must ____ by the rules if you want to stay in the game.