ENGLISH
REFERENCE

defied

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //dɪˈfaɪd// UK //dɪfˈaɪd// de·fied

v. to refuse to obey a person, a rule, or a law. You can also use it when something is so amazing or strange that it is impossible to describe or explain.

v. to resist or refuse to obey authority, a law, or a social convention. In a descriptive sense, it refers to something that remains unaffected by or impossible to reconcile with a particular quality or expectation.


SIMPLE

The young athlete defied the doctor's orders and returned to training.

CONTEXTUAL

The small village successfully defied the government's plan to build a highway through the local forest.

COMPLEX

The sheer scale of the cathedral's interior defied any attempt at a simple description, leaving the visitors in a state of silent awe.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. Often used in the phrase 'defied description' or 'defied logic'.

Pitfall

He defied to the rulesHe defied the rulesDefy is a transitive verb; it takes a direct object without the preposition 'to'.

© 2026 English Reference