abiding
uh-BYE-ding
/əˈbaɪdɪŋ/
(Of a feeling or memory) lasting a long time; enduring.
Usually used for internal states like love, faith, or respect. It suggests a quiet, steady persistence rather than a loud or aggressive one.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Old English 'abidan,' which meant 'to wait for' or 'to remain.' It captures the idea of staying in one place and not being moved by external circumstances. It is one of the few words in this list with Germanic rather than Latin roots.
Word relationships
- enduring: Enduring is more common and can apply to physical things; abiding is more poetic and emotional.
- steadfast: Steadfast implies a conscious choice to remain firm, while abiding describes the state of the feeling itself.
- fickle: Fickle describes feelings that change frequently and without reason.
- evanescent: Evanescent describes something that fades away like vapor.
Commonly confused with
- abide: Abide is the verb (to stay or tolerate), while abiding is the adjective describing the lasting quality.
Word family
- abide (verb): To stay, remain, or tolerate.
Collocations
- abiding interest
- abiding faith
- abiding love
- law-abiding
Example sentences
- "Despite their many arguments, they shared an abiding affection for one another that spanned five decades." Personal Relationships
- "He was known as a law-abiding citizen who never once received so much as a parking ticket." Law
Memory hook
If you 'abide' by the rules, you 'stay' within them. Abiding is staying power. Abiding = Always biding (staying).
When not to use
Rarely used for physical objects; you wouldn't usually call a rock 'abiding.'
Fun facts
- The famous hymn 'Abide with Me' uses the word in its verb form to ask for a presence that stays through the 'eventide' of life.
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.