1.resist的基本意思是“反抗,抵抗”,指拒绝接受,并设法阻止其发生,也指与其战斗以防被击败,往往强调以武力为手段,引申还可以作“未受损害,耐得住”解。
2.resist还可表示从主观意识出发的意志“不屈服,忍住”,这时,后面常跟动名词,并多用于否定句中,意思是“不禁,忍不住”。
3.resist主要用作及物动词,偶尔用作不及物动词。用作及物动词时,接名词、代词或动名词作宾语。

用作不及物动词
▲S+～(+A)
He could resist no longer.他抵抗不住了。
The temptation is great, but he knows how to resist.诱惑是很大的,但他知道如何抵制。
They resisted desperatrly but suffered heavy casualties.他们拼命抵抗,但还是遭受了严重伤亡。抵抗,但还是遭受了严重伤亡。
用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
The protesters resisted the police.抗议者用武力阻止警察前进。
They were unable to resist the invasion.他们抵抗不了侵略。
They resisted my proposal because they thought the plan would cost too much money.他们反对我提出的计划,因为他们认为这个计划花钱太多。
This kind of metal can resist acid.这种金属耐酸。
This metal resists corrosion.这种金属抗腐蚀。
It's a kind of glass that resists heat.这是一种耐热的玻璃。
She can't resist chocolate.她一看见巧克力糖,就忍不住要吃。
She can never resist a joke.她听到笑话总忍不住要笑出来。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
Any attack will be resisted with force.任何攻击都会受到有力的抵抗。
▲S+～+v-ing
I couldn't resist telling him the secret.我忍不住要把秘密告诉他。
She could hardly resist laughing on those occasions.在那些场合她总忍不住要笑。
She can't resist making jokes about his baldness.她忍不住拿他的秃头开玩笑。
When she got to the place, she could not resist going in.她到那里时,禁不住走进去。

resist, defy
这组词都可作“抵制”解。其区别是:前者表示出于阻止对方的行为而采取对立行动; 后者则含有果断、好斗且勇气十足的意味,伴有更公开、更尖锐的反抗行动。

resist常与否定词连用,后面可以接动名词,但不能接动词不定式。试比较:
我忍不住告诉了他这个秘密。
误:I couldn't resist to tell him the secret.
正:I couldn't resist telling him the secret.