# resist

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɹɪˈzɪst/ · frequency rank #5,163

## Definitions
1. To attempt to counter the actions or effects of.
2. To withstand the actions of.
3. To oppose; to refuse to accept.
4. To be distasteful to.

## Etymology
From Middle English resisten, from Middle French resister and Old French resistre, and their source, Latin resistere, from re- + sistere (“cause to stand”).

## Easily confused with
- **rest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resist-vs-rest)
- **rests** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resist-vs-rests)
- **Revis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resist-vs-revis)
- **result** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resist-vs-result)
- **resort** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resist-vs-resort)
- **revise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resist-vs-revise)
- **revisit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resist-vs-revisit)
- **resisted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resist-vs-resisted)
- **resistor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resist-vs-resistor)
- **reis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reis-vs-resist)
- **reit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reit-vs-resist)
- **reset** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reset-vs-resist)
- **resin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resin-vs-resist)
- **Regis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/regis-vs-resist)
- **remit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/remit-vs-resist)
- **refit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refit-vs-resist)
- **racist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/racist-vs-resist)
- **resign** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/resign-vs-resist)
- **reside** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reside-vs-resist)
- **rapist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rapist-vs-resist)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ersist`, `reisst`, `resisst`, `resistt`, `resits`, `ressist`, `ressit`, `rresist`, `rseist`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/resist