RESIST

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does resist mean? 

• RESIST (verb)
  The verb RESIST has 6 senses:

1. elude, especially in a baffling way

2. stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something

3. express opposition through action or words

4. withstand the force of something

5. resist immunologically the introduction of some foreign tissue or organ

6. refuse to comply

  Familiarity information: RESIST used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RESIST (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they resist    ... he / she / it resists   
Past simple: resisted   
Past participle: resisted   
-ing form: resisting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Elude, especially in a baffling way

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

defy; refuse; resist

Context example:

This behavior defies explanation

Hypernyms (to "resist" is one way to...):

elude; escape (be incomprehensible to; escape understanding by)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "resist"):

beggar (be beyond the resources of)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Stand up or offer resistance to somebody or something

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

hold out; resist; stand firm; withstand

Hypernyms (to "resist" is one way to...):

defend; fight; fight back; fight down; oppose (fight against or resist strongly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "resist"):

stand out (be stubborn in resolution or resistance)

stand up (refuse to back down; remain solid under criticism or attack)

outbrave (resist bravely)

hold off (resist and fight to a standoff)

remain firm; stand (hold one's ground; maintain a position; be steadfast or upright)

defy; hold; hold up; withstand (resist or confront with resistance)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Antonym:

surrender (give up or agree to forgo to the power or possession of another)

Derivation:

resistance (the military action of resisting the enemy's advance)

resistant; resistive (disposed to or engaged in defiance of established authority)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Express opposition through action or words

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

dissent; protest; resist

Context example:

dissent to the laws of the country

Hypernyms (to "resist" is one way to...):

contradict; controvert; oppose (be resistant to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "resist"):

strike; walk out (stop work in order to press demands)

demonstrate; march (march in protest; take part in a demonstration)

arise; rebel; rise; rise up (take part in a rebellion; renounce a former allegiance)

rebel; renegade (break with established customs)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

resistant; resistive (disposed to or engaged in defiance of established authority)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Withstand the force of something

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

fend; resist; stand

Context example:

The mountain climbers had to fend against the ice and snow

Hypernyms (to "resist" is one way to...):

defend; fight; fight back; fight down; oppose (fight against or resist strongly)

Verb group:

remain firm; stand (hold one's ground; maintain a position; be steadfast or upright)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

resistant (incapable of absorbing or mixing with)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Resist immunologically the introduction of some foreign tissue or organ

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

refuse; reject; resist

Context example:

His body rejected the liver of the donor

Hypernyms (to "resist" is one way to...):

react; respond (show a response or a reaction to something)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

resistant (relating to or conferring immunity (to disease or infection))

Sense 6

Meaning:

Refuse to comply

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

balk; baulk; jib; resist

Hypernyms (to "resist" is one way to...):

disobey (refuse to go along with; refuse to follow; be disobedient)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

They resist moving

Derivation:

resistance (group action in opposition to those in power)

resistant (disposed to or engaged in defiance of established authority)

resister (someone who offers opposition)

resister (someone who systematically obstructs some action that others want to take)

resistive (disposed to or engaged in defiance of established authority)

 Context examples 

I resisted; it was the impulse of the moment to resist, and still walked on.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

"As people made watermelons sweeter and redder, the fruit lost some abilities to resist diseases and other types of stresses."

(Harvesting genes to improve watermelons, National Science Foundation)

So, placing the candle with great caution on a chair, she seized the key with a very tremulous hand and tried to turn it; but it resisted her utmost strength.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

But they can sometimes be made more harmful by increasing their ability to cause disease, spread, or resist medical treatment.

(Biodefense and Bioterrorism, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

My friend Robert could not resist.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Each time you take antibiotics, you increase the chances that bacteria in your body will learn to resist them.

(Bacterial Infections, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

Each time you take antibiotics, you increase the chances that bacteria in your body will be able to resist them.

(Antibiotics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

And if I were in your place I should dislike her; I should resist her.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

She felt that she must lean toward him, and resisted by an effort.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

And there was a wind blowing upon me which I could not resist, swaying the very body of me till I leaned toward her, all unconscious that I leaned.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)