abide

To follow a rule or accept a decision.

• You must abide by the rules.
• Both sides agreed to abide by the decision.
• Will they abide by the terms of the contract?

How to use it: abide by something (All members must abide by the club rules.)

Similar words: obey, follow, comply with

Opposites: disobey

Common phrases: abide by rules, abide by something

If you cannot bear someone or something, you strongly dislike them.

• I cannot abide that smell.
• She could never abide rude people.
• He cannot abide being kept waiting.

How to use it: cannot abide someone/something (I cannot abide loud music.); cannot abide doing something (She cannot abide waiting in queues.)

Similar words: stand, tolerate, bear

Common phrases: cannot abide something, cannot abide someone

To accept something unpleasant patiently.

• She abided the delay without complaint.
• He learned to abide pain in silence.
• They abided their troubles patiently.

Similar words: bear, endure, tolerate

Common phrases: abide the delay, abide suffering

To stay strong despite something harmful or difficult.

• The old walls abided the storm.
• Few could abide such hardship without losing hope.
• The oak abides the strongest winds.

Similar words: withstand, endure

Common phrases: abide the storm, abide hardship