resist

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled resis

US /ɹɪˈzɪst/ See IPA manual

Freq #3479

Meanings

1

verb
To stop yourself from doing or having something you want.

I couldn't resist the temptation to have another slice of cake.
2

verb
To fight against or refuse to accept something.

The villagers resisted the army's advance for weeks.
3

verb
To not be harmed or affected by something.

These trees can resist both salt and smog.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to stop yourself from doing... refuse

2 verb · to fight against or refuse... opposehold out

3 verb · to not be harmed or... withstand stand

More gainstaywithset

Opposites

obey submit

Word family

Forms resistedresistingresistlessresistlesslyresistsunresistingunresistingly

Derived forms irresistible irresistiblynonresistingresistance resistantresistantlyresistfulresistibleresistiblyresistinresistinglyresistive

Appears in

Phrases (2)

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Proverbs (2)

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Simplified etymology

Resist entered English in the late Middle English period and belongs to the Latin family of sistere, “to set, stand still, or stop.” Its literal sense is “stand back or against.”

Etymology

From Middle English resisten, from Middle French resister and Old French resistre, and their source, Latin resistere, from re- + sistere (“cause to stand”).

resisten Middle English resister Middle French resistre Old French resisto Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# resist

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɹɪˈzɪst/
**Frequency rank:** 3479

## Meanings
1. To stop yourself from doing or having something you want.
2. To fight against or refuse to accept something.
3. To not be harmed or affected by something.

## Examples
- I couldn't resist the temptation to have another slice of cake.
- The villagers resisted the army's advance for weeks.
- These trees can resist both salt and smog.

## Synonyms
- gainstay
- oppose
- withset

## Antonyms
- obey
- submit

## Derived Forms
- irresistible
- irresistibly
- nonresisting
- resistance
- resistant
- resistantly
- resistful
- resistible
- resistibly
- resistin
- resistingly
- resistive

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: resisten
- Root: resister
- Root: resistre
- Root: resisto

## Etymology
From Middle English resisten, from Middle French resister and Old French resistre, and their source, Latin resistere, from re- + sistere (“cause to stand”).

## AI Etymology
Resist comes from Middle English resisten, from Middle French resister and Old French resistre, and their source, Latin resistere, from re- + sistere (“cause to stand”). Modern senses include to stop yourself from doing or having something you want. and to fight against or refuse to accept something.. The wider word family includes derivatives such as irresistible, irresistibly, nonresisting, resistance, resistant, and resistantly.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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