resist

verb re·sist \ ri-ˈzist \

Definition of resist

intransitive verb

:to exert force in opposition

transitive verb

1 :to exert oneself so as to counteract or defeat

he resisted temptation

2 :to withstand the force or effect of

material that resists heat

See resist defined for English-language learners

See resist defined for kids

Examples of resist in a Sentence

He was charged with resisting arrest.
These windows can resist very high winds.
The drug will help your body resist infection.
She couldn't resist telling us what she'd heard.
He was able to resist the urge to tell her his secret.
It was hard resisting the temptation to open the box.
The offer was hard to resist.
I know I shouldn't have any more cake, but I can't resist.

Recent Examples of resist from the Web

The country’s first approved gene therapy — approved Wednesday to fight leukemia that resists standard therapies — will cost $475,000 for a one-time treatment, its manufacturer announced.

— liz szabo, Kaiser Health News, "Pioneering Cancer Gene Therapy Gets Green Light — And $475,000 Price Tag," 30 Aug. 2017
White House Black Market: Can’t resist another sale-on-sale?

— halie lesavage, Glamour, "50+ Labor Day Sales That Are Definitely Worth Shopping This Year," 24 Aug. 2017
And as Southerners zealously resisted federal efforts aimed at integration, the number of public Confederate displays and tributes surged across the South.

— campbell robertson, alan blinder and richard fausset, New York Times, "In Monument Debate, Calls for an Overdue Reckoning on Race and Southern Identity," 18 Aug. 2017
In addition to the three counts of murder, Johnson also was convicted of two counts of murder in perpetration of kidnapping, two counts of kidnapping and misdemeanor resisting law enforcement.

— ruth ann krause, Post-Tribune, "Gary man found guilty of three 2015 shooting deaths," 16 Aug. 2017
He was also charged with resisting arrest and driving under suspension.

— veronica hilbring, Essence.com, "Video Shows White Cop Beating Black Motorist During Routine Traffic Stop," 16 Aug. 2017
On Aug. 2, he was convicted of one of the resisting arrest charges.

— bill bird, Naperville Sun, "Man convicted of falsely accusing cops of crime gets jail for resisting arrest," 8 Aug. 2017
Walking up to the Ravello Cathedral, her gown was a mesmerizing sight to behold — as proven by the tourists who couldn't resist cheering and taking pictures.

— lauren smith, House Beautiful, "This Bride's Two-in-One Wedding Gown Is Beyond Gorgeous," 1 Aug. 2017
Britain has resisted Emirati pressure to ban the Muslim Brotherhood and hosts many more senior Brotherhood figures than Qatar does.

— The Economist, "To escape repression, critics are leaving the Gulf," 20 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'resist.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of resist

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French resister, from Latin resistere, from re- + sistere to take a stand; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

resist Synonyms

Synonyms

buck, defy, fight, oppose, repel, withstand

Antonyms

bow (to), capitulate (to), give in (to), knuckle under (to), stoop (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to)

Related Words

battle, combat, contend (with); challenge, contest, contradict, dispute; baffle, balk, foil, frustrate, thwart; check, counter, hinder, obstruct, stem

Synonym Discussion of resist

oppose, combat, resist, withstand mean to set oneself against someone or something. oppose can apply to any conflict, from mere objection to bitter hostility or warfare.

- opposed the plan

combat stresses the forceful or urgent countering of something.

- combat disease

resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it.

- resisting temptation

withstand suggests a more passive resistance.

- trying to withstand peer pressure

resist

noun, often attributive

Definition of resist

:something (such as a coating) that protects against a chemical, electrical, or physical action

Recent Examples of resist from the Web

Here, Brewer discusses her character's final choice, how the pain of victim-blaming led her to this point, and why seeing her resist rape by a new Commander was a breath of fresh air.

— emma dibdin, Marie Claire, "'Handmaid's Tale' Star Madeline Brewer on Janine's Heartbreaking Turn in Episode 9," 8 June 2017
The pressure to take to the streets, to do something (RESIST! RESIST!

— bassey ikpi, The Root, "Sometimes, Staying Woke Means Staying Away," 26 May 2017
Pysanky, the art of wax-resist egg decorating dates back to the pre-Christian era.

— denise coffey, Courant Community, "Killingly Memorial School Showcases Student Art," 24 May 2017
Since Trump took office, Democrats have adopted a single theme: Resist!

— marc a. thiessen, The Denver Post, "Trump’s speech should seek bipartisanship — and dare Democrats to refuse it," 27 Feb. 2017
Rise and Resist’s first meeting, of about three hundred people, was in the West Village, at the , in Room 101, the regular gathering space for for many years.

— sarah larson, The New Yorker, "A Jazz Funeral for the American Presidency," 24 Feb. 2017
Days later, activists unfurled a 70-foot banner from a crane behind the White House, with just one word printed on it: RESIST.

— beverly gage, New York Times, "A ‘Resistance’ Stands Against Trump. But What Will It Stand For?," 31 Jan. 2017

First Known Use of resist

1836

Other Electrical Engineering Terms

feedback, fuse, incandescent, noise, resonance

RESIST Defined for English Language Learners

resist

verb

Definition of resist for English Language Learners

: to fight against (something) : to try to stop or prevent (something)
: to remain strong against the force or effect of (something) : to not be affected or harmed by (something)
: to prevent yourself from doing something that you want to do