Definition

Verb: 1. To obey or follow a rule, law, agreement, or decision: To act in accordance with what is required or stipulated. 2. To accept and act according to a decision or ruling: To respect and adhere to an outcome, especially one made by an authority.

Usage

This verb is transitive and requires an object (the rule, law, decision, etc., that is being followed). It is often used in formal or official contexts to describe compliance.

Examples

• All citizens must abide by the laws of the country.
• The company agreed to abide by the arbitrator's final decision.
• As a member of the club, you are expected to abide by its code of conduct.
• The two nations signed a treaty and promised to abide by its terms.

Advanced Usage

• "to abide by the rules": This is a very common collocation emphasizing compliance with a set of established regulations.
  • In a fair competition, every participant must abide by the rules.
• "to abide by a verdict": Used in legal contexts to mean accepting a court's judgment.
  • The defendant stated he would abide by the jury's verdict.

Variants and Related Words

• Abidance (n): The act of abiding by something; compliance.
  • Strict abidance by the safety protocols is mandatory.
• Law-abiding (adj): A compound adjective describing a person who obeys the law.
  • He is a law-abiding citizen.

Synonyms

• Comply with: To act in accordance with a wish, command, or rule.
• Observe: To fulfill or comply with a law, rule, or custom.
• Adhere to: To believe in and follow the practices of something.
• Follow: To act according to an instruction, rule, or example.

Phrasal Verbs

Note: "Abide by" is itself a phrasal verb. The base verb "abide" has other, less common phrasal forms, but "abide by" is the primary and most relevant one for this meaning.

Related Idioms

• Play by the rules: To behave fairly and honestly according to the established rules. This idiom is very similar in meaning to "abide by the rules" but is often used in less formal contexts.
  • If you want to succeed in this business, you have to play by the rules.

Verb

1. show respect towards
   • honor your parents!
2. act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
   • He complied with my instructions
   • You must comply or else!
   • Follow these simple rules
   • abide by the rules