¹resist

verb re·sist \ri-ˈzist\

: 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

Full Definition of RESIST

intransitive verb

: to exert force in opposition

transitive verb

: to exert oneself so as to counteract or defeat <he resisted temptation>

: to withstand the force or effect of <material that resists heat>

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See resist defined for kids

Origin 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

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to RESIST

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)

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>.

Rhymes with RESIST

A-list, assist, backlist, blacklist, B-list, checklist, consist, dean's list, delist, desist, encyst, enlist, entwist, exist, handlist, hit list, insist, life list, mailed fist, persist, playlist, protist, Rehnquist, short list, short-list, subsist, untwist, wait-list, white list, wish list

²resist

noun, often attributive

Definition of RESIST

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

First Known Use of RESIST

1836

Other Electrical Engineering Terms

feedback, fuse, incandescent, noise, resonance

RESIST Defined for Kids

resist

verb re·sist \ri-ˈzist\

re·sist·edre·sist·ing

Definition of RESIST for Kids

: to fight against : oppose <Students resisted the war.>

: to avoid doing or having something <I can't resist bragging.> <Who can resist chocolate?>

: to withstand the force or effect of <These plants resist disease.>

Learn More About RESIST

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "resist"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "resist"

Nglish: Translation of "resist" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "resist" for Arabic speakers

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