Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

abide

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of abide

1 to continue to be in a place for a significant amount of time

  • refused to abide where it was clear that he wasnʼt wanted
Synonyms of abide

dwell, hang around, remain, stay, stick around, tarry
Words Related to abide

await, hang on, hold on, wait

dally, dawdle, linger, loiter

outstay, overstay
Near Antonyms of abide

abscond, book [slang], decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, run away, scat, scram, skip

abandon, desert, forsake, vacate
Antonyms of abide

bail, bail out, bug out, buzz (off), clear off [chiefly British], clear out, cut out, depart, exit, get off, go, go off, leave, move, pack (up or off), peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, quit, shove (off), take off, vamoose, walk out

2 to have a home

  • the charming fantasy that fairies abide in the cup-shaped flowers dotting the woodland floor
Synonyms of abide

dwell, live, reside
Words Related to abide

lodge, settle, stay

frequent, hang (at), haunt, visit

cohabit, inhabit, occupy

people, populate

lease, rent, sublet, tenant

3 to put up with (something painful or difficult)

  • cannot abide being in huge crowds
Synonyms of abide

absorb, accept, bear, bide [chiefly dialect], brook, countenance, endure, go, hack, handle, meet, pocket, stand, stick out, stomach, support, sustain, sweat out, take, tolerate, wear [British]
Words Related to abide

allow, permit, suffer, swallow

reconcile (to)

acquiesce, agree (with or to), assent (to), capitulate, consent (to), respect, submit (to), yield (to)
Phrases Synonymous with abide

live with, lump (it), stand for, tough out (it)
Near Antonyms of abide

decline, dismiss, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn, turn down

combat, contest, fight, oppose, resist

avoid, bypass, circumvent, dodge, elude, escape, evade, miss

abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from)

4 to remain indefinitely in existence or in the same state

  • the village's once-honored ways no longer abide and now exist only in the memories of a few elders
Synonyms of abide

bide, continue, endure, hold on, hold up, keep up, last, perdure, persist, remain, run on
Words Related to abide

linger, stay, stick around, tarry

carry through, prevail, survive
Near Antonyms of abide

abate, die (down), ebb, let up, moderate, subside, wane
Antonyms of abide

cease, close, conclude, desist, die, discontinue, end, expire, finish, lapse, leave off, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up

Synonym Discussion of abide

bear, suffer, endure, abide, tolerate, stand mean to put up with something trying or painful. bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.
    • forced to bear a tragic loss
suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.
    • suffering many insults
endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.
    • endured years of rejection
abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.
    • cannot abide their rudeness
tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.
    • refused to tolerate such treatment
stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.
    • unable to stand teasing

Learn More about abide

  1. See words that rhyme with abide Dictionary: Definition of abide Spanish Central: Translation of abide Nglish: Translation of abide for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of abide for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up abide? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

tomfoolery

playful or foolish behavior

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. gaslight It is a word, though.

  2. invasion CNN reporter questions President.

  3. relevancy Ariana Grande slams ex-fiancé.

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games