abide by the rules

Meaning

This phrase means to accept, follow, and obey a set of rules, laws, or decisions. It is a formal collocation often used in legal, sports, or official contexts to emphasize compliance and duty.

Examples

• All players must agree to abide by the rules of the tournament before registering.

  All players must agree to abide by the rules of the tournament before registering.

• If you want to live in this shared apartment, you have to abide by the rules we established.

  If you want to live in this shared apartment, you have to abide by the rules we established.

• The company was fined heavily because it failed to abide by the environmental rules.

  The company was fined heavily because it failed to abide by the environmental rules.

• Even if you disagree with the new policy, you are still expected to abide by the rules.

  Even if you disagree with the new policy, you are still expected to abide by the rules.

• To ensure a fair competition, everyone must strictly abide by the rules.

  To ensure a fair competition, everyone must strictly abide by the rules.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ You must abide to the rules of the game.

  ✓ You must abide by the rules of the game.

  The verb 'abide' must be paired with the preposition 'by' in this context.

• ✗ We agreed to abide the rules.

  ✓ We agreed to abide by the rules.

  'Abide' requires the preposition 'by' when it means to obey or conform to something.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you refuse to ___ of the library, you will be asked to leave.

  💡 obey the regulations

  Show answer

  abide by the rules

• Every citizen is expected to ___ and respect the local community guidelines.

  💡 follow the established laws

  Show answer

  abide by the rules