resist
Americanverb (used with object)
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to withstand, strive against, or oppose.
to resist infection; to resist temptation.
- Synonyms:
- rebuff, counteract, confront
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to withstand the action or effect of.
to resist spoilage.
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to refrain or abstain from, especially with difficulty or reluctance.
They couldn't resist the chocolates.
verb (used without object)
noun
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a substance that prevents or inhibits some effect from taking place, as a coating on a surface of a metallic printing plate that prevents or inhibits corrosion of the metal by acid.
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Textiles. a chemically inert substance used in resist printing.
verb
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to stand firm (against); not yield (to); fight (against)
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(tr) to withstand the deleterious action of; be proof against
to resist corrosion
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(tr) to oppose; refuse to accept or comply with
to resist arrest
to resist the introduction of new technology
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(tr) to refrain from, esp in spite of temptation (esp in the phrases cannot or could not resist ( something ))
noun
Synonym Usage
See oppose.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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resistinglyadverb
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overresistverb
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resistiblyadverb
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quasi-resistedadjective
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resisternoun
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resistibilitynoun
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interresistverb
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nonresistingadjective
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unresistingadjective
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unresistedadjective
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resistibleadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have resistedperfect
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has resistedperfect 3rd person singular
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is resistingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are resistingprogressive
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resistingparticiple
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am resistingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been resistingperfect progressive
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resistssingular 3rd person
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has been resistingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had resistedperfect
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was resistingprogressive singular
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were resistingprogressive plural
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resistedsimple
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resistedparticiple
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had been resistingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of resist
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English resisten (verb), from Latin resistere “to remain standing,” equivalent to re- “again, back” + sistere “to cause to stand,” akin to stāre “to stand”; see origin at re-, stand
Explanation
To resist something is to keep it at bay or to fend off its influence or advance. You might not be able to resist the temptation to sneak out to the dance in spite of your parents' objections. The verb resist comes from the Latin word resistere, meaning “to take a stand,” or “withstand.” People who are able to put up a wall — be it mental, physical, philosophical, emotional, or otherwise — to defend themselves or their group against a threat can be said to resist. The Amish community is still able to resist the influence of technology. Many a child will resist the suggestion to use a napkin. You might resist a second helping of pie.
Vocabulary lists containing resist
"The Civil Rights Movement"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In 2015 SpaceX launched Starlink, an internet satellite company that has helped Ukraine resist Russia’s invasion and dissidents living under authoritarian regimes like Iran to communicate.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
That hypothetical $330,000 nest egg, while not guaranteed, is hard to resist.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026
The findings offer a reminder that even the most advanced AI systems still have weaknesses, particularly when tasks require them to resist distractions and stay focused over extended sequences of information.
From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026
The amateur wine enthusiast learns to pronounce “gewürztraminer” and cannot resist doing so.
From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026
I had never known a child who could resist it; soon a respectful circle had gathered round him.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
