# resist

/ɹiˈzɪst/ (US) · /ɹɪsˈɪst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/resist
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to fight against

verb · CEFR B2

to fight against someone or something that is attacking you or trying to change you.

For teachers: to exert force in opposition to an action or an attacker; often used in contexts of physical struggle or political defiance.

- The local people resisted the plan to build a new highway through the forest.
- The small garrison resisted the advancing army for three weeks, despite being heavily outnumbered and low on supplies.

Usage: Often used as a transitive verb taking a direct object.

### 2. to stop yourself

verb · CEFR B2

to stop yourself from doing something that you really want to do.

For teachers: to refrain from yielding to a temptation or an impulse.

- I couldn't resist eating another piece of chocolate cake.
- Even the most disciplined investors found it difficult to resist the urge to sell when the market began its sudden decline.

Usage: Commonly used with 'can't' or 'couldn't' to show a strong desire.

### 3. to not be damaged

verb · CEFR B2

to not be harmed or affected by something like heat, water, or disease.

For teachers: to remain unaffected or undamaged by an external agent or force.

- These plants are bred to resist common garden pests.
- The new alloy was specifically engineered to resist corrosion even when submerged in saltwater for extended periods.

Usage: Often appears in the passive voice or as part of a compound adjective like 'heat-resistant'.

## Examples

- I tried to resist the urge to eat the chocolate.
- Many employees began to resist the new office rules because they felt the changes were unnecessary.
- The local community continues to resist the development of the parkland, arguing that the environmental cost far outweighs any potential economic benefit to the town.

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