From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishresistre‧sist /rɪˈzɪst/ ●●○ W3 verb 1 [intransitive, transitive usually in negatives]NOT DO something to stop yourself from having something that you like very much or doing something that you want to docannot resist (doing) something I just can’t resist chocolate. She can never resist buying new shoes.it is hard/difficult/impossible to resist something It’s hard to resist an invitation like that.resist the temptation/urge to do something She resisted the temptation to laugh. They only wanted 3 dollars for it, so how could I resist?2 [transitive]FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST something to try to prevent a change from happening, or prevent yourself from being forced to do something He resisted pressure to resign.resist doing something For months the company has resisted changing its accounts system.strongly/fiercely/vigorously etc resist The proposal was strongly resisted by the police.3 [intransitive, transitive]FIGHT FOR OR AGAINST something to use force to stop something from happeningstrongly/fiercely/firmly etc resist Demonstrators violently resisted attempts to remove them from the building. He was charged with trying to resist arrest.4 [transitive]PREVENT to not be changed or harmed by something your ability to resist infectionCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: to stop yourself from having something that you like very much or doing something that you want to donounsresist the temptation to do somethingHe resisted the temptation to look back.resist the urge/impulse to do somethingBob resisted the urge to touch her hand.resist the lure of something (=resist its attractive quality)Bond could never resist the lure of a beautiful woman.resist a challengeMr Taylor is a man who cannot resist a challenge.phrasescannot resist (doing) somethingI couldn't resist teasing him.be unable to resist (doing) somethingHe was unable to resist the temptation to smoke.hard/difficult to resistThe temptation to follow them was hard to resist.impossible to resistThe urge to give him a hug was almost impossible to resist. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: to try to prevent a change from happening, or prevent yourself from being forced to do somethingnounsresist pressureThe Chancellor resisted pressure to increase taxes.resist an attempt to do somethingThe rest of the board resisted his attempts to change the way things were done.resist changePeople resist change because they fear the unknown.adverbsstrongly/vigorously/strenuouslyBarcelona strongly resisted moves by rival clubs to sign their star players.fiercelyThe proposed change has been fiercely resisted by car companies.stubbornlyThey stubbornly resisted all attempts to modernize the factory.successfullyHe successfully resisted a challenge to his leadership. → See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
resist• When security guards came to stop him, he did not resist.• The anticipated threat is a strain of staphylococcal bacteria able to resist all available antibiotics.• Manu's friend resists and is savagely beaten up.• The unions have resisted attempts to change the pay structure.• Although Artemis seems to have disliked all males, she particularly resisted heroes of the stamp of Hercules and Achilles.• He resisted intense heat to rescue one person and try to get another out.• Test-tube studies show that the virus is able to resist most antibiotics.• The university resisted pressure to close its art department.• Congress continues to resist the anti-weapons bill.• The saint could not resist the appeal of that spotted belly, butter-soft, that pale fur so douce and plush.• Now you try this exercise, and resist the impulse to give up.• By resisting the Mafia's attempts to control the region, he was putting his own life in danger.• She called it the science of shopping, the ability to resist the temptations of dazzling packaging.• Still, some companies will resist these changes.resist the temptation/urge to do something• Gulping, and resisting the temptation to dive straight into the Rue du Barri, he forced himself to run.• Corrigan resisted the urge to grab him by the arm and hold him.• He was welcome to the food in the pantry, she thought grimly, resisting the temptation to hope it choked him.• Transvaal captain Jannie Breedt will resist the temptation to panic.• The smell was unpleasant too but she resisted the temptation to remove her scented handkerchief from the cuff of her blouse.• Letterman resists the temptation to sneer at what some might consider pretentiousness.• You resist the urge to test the weight on the lid again, because by now you've forgotten how it felt before.• But she resisted the urge to turn and glance at him and kept her eyes fixed straight ahead.strongly/fiercely/vigorously etc resist• It is precisely in such circumstances that the imposition of obligations upon third parties is most strongly resisted.• It would, of course, be fiercely resisted because it gives back power to the people.• Tight controls were strongly resisted by developing countries.• Such clauses are often fiercely resisted by the buyer, but in most cases without reason.• The Declaration was fiercely resisted by the minority.• Both these matters were deep in political controversy, the second in particular being strongly resisted by the police as well as by the Government.• It wants to control, and fiercely resists its own capitulation.• The army fiercely resisted the move.resist arrest• He was killed by a shotgun blast while supposedly resisting arrest.• However, by then feelings were running so high Mr Pennell resisted arrest.• Quoting a local source, Reuter said that the suspect and his family resisted arrest.• The accused was charged with one form of s.18, wounding with intent to resist arrest.• Twenty of the protesters were also cited for resisting arrest.• The incident began early Sunday when San Jose police began chasing the man for resisting arrest and drug use.• Other charges included resisting arrest and loitering.From Longman Business Dictionaryresistre‧sist /rɪˈzɪst/ verb [intransitive, transitive] to try to prevent something happening or changingIt resisted a bid by the Denver company to acquire a 46% stake.The board voted to file for bankruptcy, even though two directors resisted.→ See Verb tableOrigin resist (1300-1400) Latin resistere, from sistere “to stop” 