resist
gb/ɹɪzˈɪst/ us/ɹɪzˈɪst/
A2
English
~ 2500
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Act to stop or oppose
To try to stop or fight against something you do not want.
Usage pattern:
to resist [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'resist' with 'refuse'. 'Resist' means to actively fight against something; 'refuse' means to say no to something offered or asked.
Synonyms
oppose (More formal and often used in political or ideological contexts.)
|
withstand (Suggests enduring without being harmed; often physical or metaphorical challenges.)
Antonyms
yield (To give in or surrender to pressure or force.)
Collocations
resist change
|resist temptation
|resist arrest
|resist pressure
Themes
conflict
|daily life
|politics
|core_vocabulary
|law
Examples
- The protesters vowed to resist the new law.
- He tried to resist the urge to shout.
- The soldiers resisted the enemy attack for hours.
- She resisted his attempts to change her mind.
Learner examples
- I resist eating too much sugar.
- They resist the new rules.
- He resists the idea of moving.
- We resist any changes to our plan.
Verb
A2
action
2
Avoid despite wanting to
To stop yourself from doing something you want but should not do.
Usage pattern:
to resist [noun/verb-ing]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'can't resist' when they mean 'like a lot'. It should mean they fail or struggle to stop themselves from doing it.
Synonyms
refrain (More formal; emphasizes self-restraint.)
Antonyms
indulge (To give in to a desire or temptation.)
Collocations
resist temptation
|resist the urge
|resist chocolate
Themes
self-control
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I can't resist chocolate cake.
- She resisted the temptation to check her phone during the meeting.
- He resisted laughing at the joke.
Learner examples
- I resist eating candy.
- She resists buying new clothes.
- He resists playing games before homework.
Verb
B2
action
3
Withstand harmful force
To not be harmed or changed by something like heat, water, or disease.
Usage pattern:
to resist [force/substance]
Synonyms
withstand (Stresses enduring without damage.)
|
repel (Often used for surfaces preventing penetration by substances.)
Antonyms
succumb (To be harmed, affected, or destroyed by something.)
Collocations
resist corrosion
|resist infection
|resist damage
Themes
science
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- This fabric resists stains and wrinkles.
- Some bacteria can resist antibiotics.
- The building is designed to resist earthquakes.
Learner examples
- This shirt resists water.
- The plant resists heat.
- The wall resists strong wind.
Grammar
Dictionary form
resist
IPA
GB/ɹɪzˈɪst/
US/ɹɪzˈɪst/
Syllables & stress
res - ist (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ist)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: resist
- 3rd Person Singular: resists
- Present Participle: resisting
- Past: resisted
Word family
Forms
resists
verb
resisting
verb
resisted
verb
Core family
resistance
noun B1
resistant
adjective B1
Negative and opposite forms
irresistible
adjective B2
Related words
resistor
noun
Advanced or less common
irresistibly
adverb B2
resistive
adjective
Expressions
can't resist
1/kˈænt ɹɪzˈɪst/
fixed phrase
Unable to stop yourself
When you want something so much that you cannot stop yourself from doing it or having it.
Examples
- I can't resist a good bargain.
- She can't resist chocolate ice cream.
resist arrest
1/ɹɪzˈɪst ɚˈɛst/
fixed phrase
Fight against being arrested
To try not to be caught by the police when they want to arrest you.
Examples
- He was charged with resisting arrest.
- The suspect was charged with resisting arrest.
- Two protesters resisted arrest during the march.
- He resisted arrest and tried to run away.
resist temptation
1/ɹɪzˈɪst tɛmtˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Avoid giving in to temptation
To stop yourself from doing something that is nice but not good for you.
Examples
- He resisted the temptation to eat more cake.
- I had to resist temptation and not buy the expensive shoes.
- They managed to resist temptation and save their money.
- She resisted the temptation to eat another cookie.