Abide
/əˈbaɪd/
verbB2
Definition
Abide means to obey or accept rules, laws, or decisions without trying to change them. It can also mean to stay or live somewhere for a period of time. People often use it when talking about following agreements or living peacefully with situations.
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⚡ See It in Action
To accept or follow a rule, law, decision, or agreement
- •You must abide by the school's rules to stay enrolled.
- •All players agreed to abide by the referee's decisions.
- •She abides by the contract even when it is difficult.
To stay or live in a place for some time (less common)
- •They abide in a small village by the sea.
- •He abides with his relatives during the holidays.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "abide" like "stay" or "follow," but with a sense of respect or patience for rules or situations.
- ✓Picture someone quietly staying in a room, patiently waiting or living there without leaving.
- ✓It's the feeling when you accept a decision even if you don't like it, because you know you must.
- ✓Sounds like "a-BIDE" → imagine someone "biding" (waiting) calmly and following the rules.
- ✓Think of a guest who abides by the house rules, quietly respecting what is asked.
- ✓NOT like "ignore" (not paying attention), "abide" means to pay attention and accept.
- ✓NOT like "resist" (fight against), "abide" means to accept or live with something.
- ✓NOT like "run" or "leave," "abide" means to stay or remain.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Obey: to do what rules or commands say (Use when talking about strict following of laws or orders)
- •Accept: to agree or live with something (Use when focusing on agreeing with a situation or decision)
- •Stay: to remain in a place (Use when talking about living or remaining somewhere physically)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; root word "bide" means to wait or remain
- •Etymology: From Old English "ābīdan," meaning "to wait for, remain, endure"
- •Historical development: Originally meant to wait patiently or remain in a place; later extended to mean to accept or endure rules or situations
- •Modern usage: Mostly used to mean accepting rules or decisions; less often to mean living somewhere
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when you had to abide by a rule you did not like? How did it feel?
•How is abiding by social rules important for living peacefully with others?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.You have to abide by the ___ of the game if you want to play fairly.
2.Even though he disagreed, he chose to abide ___ the decision.
3.When you abide by a rule, you show ___ for the people who made it.
4.They decided to abide ___ their grandparents during the summer vacation.
5.Abiding by the law means you do not try to ___ it.
6.If someone does not abide by the rules, they may face ___.
7.She abides by the company policies because she wants to keep her ___ safe.