- 1 [transitive, intransitive] to refuse to accept something and try to stop it from happening synonym oppose resist (something) to resist change They are determined to resist pressure to change the law. She steadfastly resisted all attempts to help her. I believe we should resist calls for tighter controls. resist doing something The bank strongly resisted cutting interest rates. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbfiercely, firmly, resolutely, … verb + resistbe able to, can, manage to, … phrasesthe strength to resist something See full entry
- 2 [intransitive, transitive] to fight back when attacked; to use force to stop something from happening He tried to pin me down, but I resisted. resist something She was charged with resisting arrest.
- 3 [transitive, intransitive] (usually in negative sentences) to stop yourself from having something you like or doing something you very much want to do resist (something) I finished the cake. I couldn't resist it. I found the temptation to miss the class too hard to resist. Eric couldn’t resist a smile when she finally agreed. resist doing something He couldn't resist showing off his new car. More Like This Verbs usually followed by -ing forms avoid, consider, delay, deny, enjoy, escape, finish, give up, imagine, involve, mention, mind, miss, postpone, practise, resist, risk, suggestSee worksheet.
- 4 [transitive] resist something to not be harmed or damaged by something A healthy diet should help your body resist infection. This new paint is designed to resist heat. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French resister or Latin resistere, from re- (expressing opposition) + sistere ‘stop’ (reduplication of stare ‘to stand’).Extra examples People naturally resist change. She could hardly resist the urge to turn and run. She was powerless to resist the attraction that she felt to him. The civil population passively resisted. They successfully resisted pressure from their competitors to increase prices. Trends in the national economy confront companies with pressures they are unable to resist. He gathered forces to resist the invasion. It is thick enough to resist breaking , even under impact. She was charged with resisting arrest. The castle was built to resist attack. They are treated with silicone to enable them to resist damp. crops which resist disease and pest attack
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BrE BrE//rɪˈzɪst//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈzɪst//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they resist BrE BrE//rɪˈzɪst//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈzɪst//
he / she / it resists BrE BrE//rɪˈzɪsts//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈzɪsts//
past simple resisted BrE BrE//rɪˈzɪstɪd//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈzɪstɪd//
past participle resisted BrE BrE//rɪˈzɪstɪd//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈzɪstɪd//
-ing form resisting BrE BrE//rɪˈzɪstɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//rɪˈzɪstɪŋ//
Check pronunciation: resist
