# bide

/ˈbaɪd/ (US) · /bˈaɪd/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bide
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

to wait patiently for the right moment to do something. You mostly see it in the phrase 'bide your time'.

For teachers: to remain in patient waiting for a suitable moment or opportunity, almost always in the collocation 'bide one's time'.

## Examples

- She decides to bide her time before answering.
- After losing the first round, the boxer bides his time, waiting for his opponent to tire in the later rounds.
- Rather than forcing a decision during the crisis, the committee chose to bide its time until clearer information emerged about the market.

## Usage notes

- Occurs almost exclusively in the phrase 'bide one's time' with a possessive pronoun.

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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.