# abide

/əˈbaɪd/ (US) · /ɐbˈaɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abide
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to tolerate

verb · CEFR B2

to tolerate or put up with something you dislike — almost always used with 'can't'.

For teachers: to tolerate or endure something unpleasant. This sense is typically restricted to negative or interrogative constructions, especially with the modal 'can'.

- I simply can't abide people who are cruel to animals.
- He found he could not abide the constant noise of the city and eventually moved to a remote village in the mountains.

### 2. to follow a rule

phrasal verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to accept and follow a rule, law, or decision.

For teachers: to comply with or adhere to a rule, decision, or recommendation. This phrasal verb is inseparable and requires the preposition 'by'.

- All members of the club must abide by the safety rules.
- Failure to abide by the terms of the contract will result in immediate termination of the partnership.

### 3. to live or stay

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

to live in a place or stay there for a long time.

For teachers: to dwell or reside in a particular place; to remain stable or fixed in a state. This usage is largely restricted to religious or poetic contexts.

- The old stories say a spirit abides in the deep woods.
- The poem speaks of a deep peace that abides within the soul even during times of great trouble.

### 4. to last

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to continue to exist for a long time.

For teachers: to endure or remain persistent over time; to last without fading.

- Their friendship has abided for over fifty years.
- While many trends are forgotten within months, certain classic designs abide because of their inherent functionality.

## Examples

- You must abide by the rules of the game.
- The committee expects all members to abide by the new safety regulations starting next month.
- While he could not abide the candidate's personal conduct, he felt a professional obligation to abide by the democratic results of the election.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.