abide

verb

ə-ˈbīd How to pronounce abide (audio)
Definition of abidenext
1
as in to remain
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to live
to have a home the charming fantasy that fairies abide in the cup-shaped flowers dotting the woodland floor

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to tolerate
to put up with (something painful or difficult) cannot abide being in huge crowds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to continue
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb abide differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of abide are bear, endure, stand, suffer, and tolerate. While all these words mean "to put up with something trying or painful," abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

When is bear a more appropriate choice than abide?

The words bear and abide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

When could endure be used to replace abide?

While in some cases nearly identical to abide, endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

In what contexts can stand take the place of abide?

The meanings of stand and abide largely overlap; however, stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

When might suffer be a better fit than abide?

The synonyms suffer and abide are sometimes interchangeable, but suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

When can tolerate be used instead of abide?

The words tolerate and abide can be used in similar contexts, but tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abide And the Diderot-Baudelaire-Fried tree abides even as the forest burns mutely round it, match lit by Elon Musk and company. — Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026 This extended take, at times following the smooth ride through the streets and sometimes running ahead, morphs into a strange yet ominous slow-motion chase, revealing both the neighborhood’s geography and its abiding mentality. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026 Reiter noted one of the abiding principles of the twenty-first century military being used from Ukraine to Iran to any other modern theatre. — John Werner, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 To struggle with silence is a uniquely human condition; the animal kingdom abides in it, until there is reason to sound out. — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for abide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abide
  1. remain
  2. live
  3. tolerate
  4. continue
  5. stay
  6. reside
  7. endure
  8. last
Verb
  • Following the closure of Farfetch, LVMH purchased a 60% majority stake in the brand in July 2021, while the remaining 40% remained the property of Abloh, who had become LV men’s creative director in 2018.
    — Luke Leitch, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The few remaining workers maintaining the plant, however, received those benefits upon ratification.
    — Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of remain
Verb
  • Four families living near Meta’s Newton County data center are suing the tech giant, claiming the massive facility taints their drinking water and disrupts their daily lives.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The modern lamp is a classic for living rooms where overhead lighting is a non-starter.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of live
Verb
  • So a manufacturer’s willingness to tolerate those costs is often determined by what the law requires.
    — Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The 130-micrometer polystyrene films came through untouched because spreading the same voltage across ten times the distance drops the field below what the material can tolerate.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of tolerate
Verb
  • Porter has staked his claim as the starter opposite Stokes, though rookies McCoy and Masses should continue to challenge him for that role throughout the season.
    — Sam Warren, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Momentum continued into the first half of 2026, with a double-digit rise in sales, the company said.
    — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of continue
Verb
  • Jacob Murphy stayed, despite interest from Nottingham Forest.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • And the audience for those games skews young, with more than half of all avid soccer viewers aged 18-to-34, a demographic highly sought by advertisers and one that suggests NBC’s numbers could stay strong for years.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of stay
Verb
  • By November, the group is expected to continue its right-leaning hold on only two boards in Clay County, which ranks first in its number of books banned, and Brevard County, where co-founder and CEO Tina Descovich currently resides.
    — Trinity Webster-Bass, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
  • For Lance Oppenheim, Primetime’s DNA resides inside a silly Cameo video.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of reside
Verb
  • When combined with a hot blanket of the humidity the city has endured throughout the summer, players could be forced to withdraw from their matches or push through, risking injury.
    — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The biggest wild card is a secret Sunday world premiere with major names promised, underscoring the festival’s enduring appeal as a place where discoveries can happen.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of endure
Verb
  • That same month, the administration temporarily paused the processing of immigrant visa appointments worldwide for consular officer training, though the pause is not expected to last beyond early to-mid-September.
    — Mariel Ferragamo, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The formula is incredibly silky, lasted beautifully throughout the day, and provided the ideal pop of color against my white dress.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of last

Phrases Containing abide

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abidances
abide
abide (beyond)
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Cite this Entry

“Abide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abide. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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