What does resisted mean?
Resisted is the past tense and past participle of resist, meaning to oppose or withstand something rather than yield to it. It describes acting against force, pressure, persuasion, temptation, control, or adverse circumstances. The word often conveys deliberate self-control: someone resisted an urge, a temptation, or an attempt to influence them, rather than simply being unable to respond. It can also describe a material or structure holding firm against force, such as a wall that resisted an earthquake or a people who resisted invasion. In these uses, “resisted” suggests endurance and opposition, but not necessarily success in overcoming the challenge. Because it can function in both physical and figurative contexts, it is useful for describing acts of defiance, restraint, and perseverance. Its simple past and past-participle forms make it especially natural in narrative writing and in accounts of conflict or temptation.
verb (past tense and past participle)The past tense and past participle of resist: to withstand or oppose force, pressure, persuasion, or temptation, and refuse to give way.
- To withstand or oppose force, pressure, attack, or control.
- To refuse to yield to temptation, desire, or persuasion.
- To oppose or withstand a change, influence, or adverse condition.
"Despite the intense pressure, she resisted the temptation to abandon her principles."
"The bridge resisted the force of the floodwaters."
"He resisted the urge to reply while he was still angry."
Resisted captures the decisive moment when outer pressure meets inner resolve.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does resisted come from?
“Resisted” is the English past tense and past participle of “resist,” a word that entered Middle English from Old French “resister.” That form came from Latin “resistere,” built from the prefix “re-,” meaning back, and “sistere,” meaning to stand. The Latin sense was fundamentally to stand back or withstand, which developed into the modern meanings of opposing force or refusing to yield. Related English forms include “resistance,” “resistant,” and “irresistible.”
Related word forms
How resisted is actually used
“Resisted” is commonly used as both the simple past tense and the past participle of “resist.” It may be transitive, as in “resisted pressure,” or intransitive, as in “she resisted.” In formal and legal contexts it can describe opposition to arrest, control, or authority.
Easily confused with resisted
“Resisted” is the past tense or past participle of “resist,” whereas “resisting” is the present participle.