# abiding

/əˈbaɪdɪŋ/ (US) · /ɐbˈaɪdɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abiding
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. lasting or enduring

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

describing a feeling, interest, or belief that you have had for a long time and will likely keep forever.

For teachers: continuing or persisting in the same state without change; often used to describe deep-seated emotions or convictions.

- He has an abiding love for the mountains where he grew up.
- Despite the political shifts of the last decade, she maintained an abiding faith in the power of local community action.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

### 3. a place to live

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old word for a home or a place where someone stays.

For teachers: a dwelling place or abode; the state of residing in a specific location.

- The old stories speak of a secret abiding deep within the forest.
- The poet sought a permanent abiding, weary of the transient life he had led across the continent.

Teaching tip: This noun sense is obsolete in modern speech; learners will only encounter it in historical literature or poetry.

## Examples

- She has an abiding love for classical music.
- His abiding commitment to environmental justice guided every policy decision he made during his tenure.
- The novel explores the protagonist's abiding sense of guilt, a shadow that follows him through decades of success and personal redemption.

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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.