Definition of abidenext
1
2
as in to live
to have a home the charming fantasy that fairies abide in the cup-shaped flowers dotting the woodland floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb abide differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of abide are bear, endure, stand, suffer, and tolerate. While all these words mean "to put up with something trying or painful," abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

When is bear a more appropriate choice than abide?

The words bear and abide are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

When could endure be used to replace abide?

While in some cases nearly identical to abide, endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

In what contexts can stand take the place of abide?

The meanings of stand and abide largely overlap; however, stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

When might suffer be a better fit than abide?

The synonyms suffer and abide are sometimes interchangeable, but suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

When can tolerate be used instead of abide?

The words tolerate and abide can be used in similar contexts, but tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abide Mystical, metaphysical, and frequently touched by whimsy, his boundary-breaking work reflected his abiding interest in Surrealists such as Joseph Cornell, Giorgio di Chirico, and René Magritte. News Desk, Artforum, 12 June 2026 This is all good news, and the schedule abides to varying degrees, with the Guardians, White Sox and Astros coming up. Eno Sarris, New York Times, 9 June 2026 And that’s the abiding belief of Carney’s. ABC News, 3 June 2026 If your abiding artistic interest lies in the place where ambition collides with basicness, Murray Hill really must be the most compelling neighborhood in Manhattan. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for abide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abide
Verb
  • His trial is currently scheduled to begin in May 2027, though the date remains subject to change, his criminal defense attorney Amber Fayerberg previously confirmed to PEOPLE.
    Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026
  • For up to a month, Luban remained in a spot off the southern coast of India that is known for high food productivity.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • As a result, many working-class Korean and Latino immigrant households lived side by side and often confronted similar challenges, including substandard housing conditions, landlord abuses and underfunded public schools.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • Related Stories The launch gives subscribers live broadcasts from five channels, TF1, TMC, TFX, TF1 Séries Films and the 24-hour news channel LCI, alongside thousands of hours of on-demand programming.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • This is because many people tolerate the early dose reductions fairly well but struggle more near the end of the taper because the brain becomes increasingly sensitive to serotonin changes at lower doses.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • Six years later, an ostensibly secret but broadly tolerated Remonstrant church was established in Delft.
    Clare Bucknell, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Through five innings, the 27-year-old struck out seven batters and gave up seven hits while allowing two runs, continuing to cement himself as Miami’s most consistent pitcher in a season defined by injuries across the pitching staff.
    Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 21 June 2026
  • Elevated interest rates will continue to benefit savers through higher returns on certificates of deposit and high-yield savings accounts.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • Vanoven urged residents to stay home as crews worked the active scene, warning that downed power lines and debris would be harder to see after dark.
    Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 22 June 2026
  • Rhaenys served as a valuable member of Rhaenyra’s council, even going to stop Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) from taking Rook’s Rest for King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), so Rhaenyra could stay back.
    Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Telepathy has long resided in the realm of science fiction and fantasy, from X-Men’s Professor X to Star Trek’s Vulcan mind meld to Stranger Things’ Eleven.
    Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026
  • The labor of these aging world-builders becomes a blueprint to navigate memory, legacy, and mortality, revealing the divine spirit residing in their daily lives.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • And in a strange way, Brazil’s early elimination from that tournament 44 years ago has only added to their enduring appeal — with the team more fondly remembered than the country’s victorious sides in 1994 and 2002.
    Will Jeanes, New York Times, 20 June 2026
  • The Toronto Blue Jays are enduring a disappointing 2026 season, struggling with inconsistency despite high expectations.
    Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • Update your emergency kit and be sure to include enough food and water to last for 3 days for each person in your home.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2026
  • The hurricane season lasts six months, from June through November.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Abide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abide. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on abide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster