resist

resist — verb

1. to use physical force or action to oppose someone or something that is trying to

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to use physical force or action to oppose someone or something that is trying to attack or defeat you

Example

The farmers resisted the army's attempt to take over their land.

resist + [person/organisation] (transitive)

Selim tried to resist the two men who grabbed his wallet on the train.

try to resist + [person]

Common collocations
  • resist an attack
  • resist the enemy
  • resist a takeover
  • resist arrest
Synonyms
  • oppose

    broader term; can be verbal or non-physical, while resist suggests physical force

  • fight back

    more active — includes counterattacking, not just withstanding

  • withstand

    focuses on enduring or surviving an attack without necessarily fighting back

Antonyms
  • surrender

    stop fighting and give up

  • yield

    allow the attacker to take control

Grammar Patterns

resist + noun phrase

resist + -ing form

resist (intransitive)

Usage Note

Transitive when the object is the attacker or the attack itself. Intransitive when the focus is on the act of defending with no specific object stated.

Common Mistakes

He resisted a group of attackers and was injured.
He fought off a group of attackers and was injured.
'resist' is defensive; if you also attack back, use 'fight off' instead.

2. to stand firm against something that tries to change or harm you — whether a new

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to stand firm against something that tries to change or harm you — whether a new law you disagree with, social pressure, or a natural force such as floodwater or heat

Example

Local residents resisted the new road construction by signing a petition.

resist + plan/proposal (civic action)

Nikhil resisted the pressure from his classmates to copy their homework.

resist + pressure/influence

Common collocations
  • resist change
  • resist pressure
  • resist temptation
  • resist the urge
Synonyms
  • withstand

    focuses on enduring or surviving without being harmed; used more for objects and physical forces

  • defy

    more dramatic and deliberate; suggests open refusal or challenge

  • stand up to

    phrasal verb; informal, emphasises courage in the face of pressure

Antonyms
  • accept

    agree to receive something willingly

  • embrace

    welcome or accept enthusiastically

Grammar Patterns

resist + noun phrase

resist + -ing form

Usage Note

Often used with abstract objects (pressure, change, temptation) or physical forces (weather, wear). The subject can be a person, group, or object.

Common Mistakes

The coat resisted rain.
The coat is water-resistant / resists water.
'resist' as a verb is transitive and needs an object; the adjective 'water-resistant' is more natural for describing materials.

3. to manage a strong internal desire toward something enjoyable that you know you

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to manage a strong internal desire toward something enjoyable that you know you should not do — for instance, not eating dessert when on a diet, or not laughing at a serious moment

Example

Sumin could not resist checking her phone when it buzzed during class.

cannot resist + gerund

Justin tried to resist buying another video game, but the discount was too good.

try to resist + gerund

Common collocations
  • cannot resist
  • resist the temptation
  • resist the urge
  • hard to resist
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • give in

    stop resisting and allow yourself to do what you wanted

  • succumb

    formal; yield to a strong desire or pressure

Grammar Patterns

cannot resist + -ing form

resist the urge/temptation to + infinitive

Usage Note

This sense is almost always followed by a gerund (-ing form) or a noun phrase like 'the urge' or 'the temptation' plus to-infinitive. It describes an internal struggle with one's own desires, not an external force.

Common Mistakes

I resisted to eat the cake.
I resisted eating the cake.
'resist' is followed by a gerund (-ing), not a to-infinitive.
I resisted the temptation to not laugh.
I resisted the temptation to laugh.
'resist' already carries the idea of stopping yourself; adding 'not' creates a double negative.

resist — noun

Word family

  • resistant
    adjectiveB2
  • resistance
    nounB2
  • irresistible
    adjectiveB2
  • resistible
    adjectiveC1
  • resistor
    nounC1
  • resistive
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Resist, oppose, withstand, fight back, and defy all involve standing against something, but differ in how. Resist is defensive — you hold your ground against an attack or pressure without necessarily counterattacking (the protesters resisted the police line). Oppose is broader: you can oppose an idea, a plan, or a person with words or votes, not just force. Withstand emphasises enduring without being damaged (the building withstood the earthquake). Fight back is more active and aggressive — you not only resist but also strike back. Defy is openly and deliberately refusing to obey, often in a bold or public way (she defied the court order). If you are physically attacked and simply block the blows, you resist. If you shout back or hit as well, you fight back.

resistopposewithstandfight backdefy

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • strongly
  • fiercely
  • successfully
  • actively
  • stubbornly

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Resist entered English in the 1300s from Old French 'resister', which came from Latin 'resistere' — formed from 're-' (against, back) and 'sistere' (to stand, to set). So the core image is 'to stand against' someone or something. This physical 'standing against' meaning later broadened to include refusing, withstanding, and self-control.