abide by

Short definition: The phrase abide by means to accept, follow, or obey a rule, decision, agreement, or law, even when it may be difficult or inconvenient, showing respect for authority, responsibility, and commitment to what has been decided.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the phrase abide by? This phrase is common in formal and semi-formal English, especially in rules, laws, agreements, and instructions. To abide by something means more than just knowing a rule—it means respecting it and following it carefully. You will often hear it in workplaces, legal documents, schools, and official statements. Below, each meaning is explained in a calm and natural way, with long definitions and realistic examples.

abide by phrasal verb /əˈbaɪd baɪ/

Forms: abide by, abides by, abided by, abiding by
Related: abide v., compliance n., obey v.
Syllable: a-bide by

(Phrasal Verb) To accept and follow a rule, law, decision, or agreement, even when it is inconvenient.
To abide by something means you agree to follow it and act according to it. This is often used for rules, laws, contracts, or instructions set by an authority. It suggests responsibility and respect, not just passive agreement. People usually use this phrase in serious or official situations.

All employees must abide by the company’s safety regulations at all times.

Even if he disagreed with the outcome, he chose to abide by the court’s decision.

Students are expected to abide by the school rules both on and off campus.

Synonyms: follow, obey, comply with, adhere to, respect, observe, conform to, act in accordance with, stick to, honor, carry out, keep to
Antonyms: ignore, break, violate, disobey, disregard, defy, go against, refuse to follow, reject, challenge, discredit, rebel against
(Phrasal Verb) To remain loyal to a promise, principle, or commitment over time.
Abide by can also mean staying faithful to a promise or moral principle. In this sense, it is less about external rules and more about personal integrity. People use it when talking about trust, responsibility, and long-term commitments. It often appears in serious personal or ethical discussions.

She promised to abide by her values, even when pressured to compromise.

He chose to abide by the agreement he made years ago.

Leaders must abide by the principles they expect others to follow.

Synonyms: stay true to, honor, keep faith with, stand by, uphold, remain loyal to, commit to, live by, stick with, respect deeply, maintain, follow through on
Antonyms: betray, abandon, break faith with, go back on, give up, violate trust, turn away from, renounce, compromise, desert, forsake, ignore commitments

Conversation Using the Phrasal Verb Abide by

In a professional office setting, managers Arthur and Beatrice are discussing the implementation of a new company policy. The dialogue focuses on the phrase abide by, which means to accept and follow a rule, decision, or recommendation, emphasizing the importance of compliance for maintaining workplace order.

Arthur: We need to make sure that every department is willing to abide by the new security protocols starting next week.

Beatrice: I’ve already sent out the memo, and most team leads have agreed to abide by the changes without any issues.

Arthur: It’s vital for the safety of our data that everyone chooses to abide by these specific guidelines consistently.

Beatrice: I noticed that some employees are hesitant, but they understand they must abide by the contract they signed upon hiring.

Arthur: I read that companies that fail to abide by federal regulations can face significant fines and legal complications.

Beatrice: If we don't abide by the current industry standards, our reputation with our clients could be seriously damaged.

Arthur: I’ll hold a brief meeting tomorrow to explain why it is in everyone's best interest to abide by the new rules.

Beatrice: That’s a good idea; once people understand the reasoning, they are much more likely to abide by the decision.

Arthur: I’m confident that our team is professional enough to abide by whatever the board decides is necessary for growth.

Beatrice: I agree; our past success is largely due to our collective ability to abide by high ethical standards.

Phrases Containing the Word Abide By

The phrases below show how the phrase abide by is used to talk about following rules, respecting decisions, and acting according to agreements or principles.

Abide by the rules

To follow established regulations.

All participants are expected to abide by the rules so the competition remains fair and enjoyable for everyone involved.

Abide by the law

To obey legal requirements.

Citizens must abide by the law even when they personally disagree with certain regulations.

Abide by the agreement

To respect the terms of a contract.

Both companies promised to abide by the agreement they had carefully negotiated over several months.

Abide by the decision

To accept an official outcome.

Although disappointed, she chose to abide by the decision made by the review committee.

Abide by the guidelines

To follow recommended standards.

Employees must abide by the guidelines to ensure safety and consistent quality in their work.

Abide by company policy

To follow workplace rules.

Every staff member is required to abide by company policy regardless of position or seniority.

Abide by tradition

To follow long-established customs.

The community continues to abide by tradition, passing the ceremony down from one generation to the next.

Abide by moral principles

To live according to ethical standards.

He tries to abide by moral principles even when no one is watching or enforcing rules.

Abide by the contract

To follow legal obligations.

If either side fails to abide by the contract, serious legal consequences may follow.

Abide by instructions

To follow directions carefully.

Please abide by instructions exactly, as small mistakes could lead to bigger problems later.

Abide by the conditions

To accept specific requirements.

They agreed to abide by the conditions in exchange for financial support.

Abide by court orders

To comply with legal rulings.

Failure to abide by court orders can result in serious penalties.

Abide by community standards

To respect shared expectations.

Content creators are expected to abide by community standards to maintain a healthy environment.

Abide by professional ethics

To follow ethical work conduct.

Doctors are trained to abide by professional ethics throughout their careers.

Abide by the terms

To accept stated conditions.

By signing the document, you agree to abide by the terms without exception.

Abide by the schedule

To follow a planned timeline.

The team struggled to abide by the schedule due to unexpected delays.

Abide by safety rules

To follow safety procedures.

Workers must abide by safety rules to reduce the risk of accidents.

Abide by shared values

To respect common beliefs.

The group agreed to abide by shared values that emphasized honesty and respect.

Abide by the outcome

To accept final results.

Even after a long debate, everyone agreed to abide by the outcome of the vote.

Abide by international law

To follow global legal standards.

Nations are expected to abide by international law to maintain global stability.

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POS: Verb Phrase Category: Law