What does resist mean?
Resist means to stand firm against something or to refuse to give in to its influence. It is used for physical forces, such as heat, pressure, or weather, and for psychological or social pressures, such as temptation, temptation to act, anger, or an urge to do something. The phrase 'resist the urge' is especially common, while 'resist temptation' describes refusing to yield to something desirable that one should avoid. In another use, resist means to oppose or try to prevent a development, as when a community resists a proposed change. The verb can be transitive, as in 'resist pressure,' or intransitive, as in 'they resisted at first.' Its tone is generally serious and authoritative, though it is also natural in everyday conversation.
verbTo withstand the action or effect of something, or to refuse to give way to pressure, temptation, or an impulse. It can also mean to oppose or attempt to prevent something from happening.
- To withstand the action, force, or effect of something.
- To refuse to comply with, surrender to, or be persuaded by pressure, temptation, or an impulse.
- To oppose or try to prevent something from happening.
"She resisted the temptation to check her phone while studying."
"The old bridge can resist considerable wind and weather."
"He could not resist laughing at the unexpected joke."
Resist comes from the idea of standing back: its Latin root means to stand against or withstand.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does resist come from?
Resist comes from Latin resistere, formed from re-, meaning 'back' or 'again,' and sistere, meaning 'to stand.' The literal sense was 'to stand back' or 'withstand.' English borrowed the word in the Middle English period, initially with meanings connected with opposition and endurance.
Related word forms
How resist is actually used
The word is formal but widely used in everyday English. 'Resist' commonly takes an object such as 'pressure,' 'temptation,' or 'control'; with an infinitive, it means to refuse to do something, as in 'I resisted the urge to reply.'
Easily confused with resist
As a noun, 'resist' can refer to a material or substance that resists chemical action, whereas as a verb it means to withstand or refuse to yield to something.