motstår

Motstå is a Norwegian verb that means to resist, withstand, or oppose. It is used to describe resisting physical force, resisting temptation, or opposing a pressure, argument, or influence. In contemporary Norwegian it appears in the present tense as motstår, and it is used in both Bokmål and Nynorsk. The verb can take a range of objects, from concrete forces to abstract temptations.

Forms include infinitive motstå; present motstår; preterite motstod; past participle motstått. The perfect tense is formed with har: har motstått. The verb can be used both transitively and intransitively with prepositional phrases, for example motstå fristelsen or motstå presset.

Usage examples illustrate its range. Present: Hun motstår fristelsen til å lyve. Present with a collective subject: Laget motstår presset fra kritikk. Past: Han motstod fristelsen og gjorde det riktige. Present perfect: De har motstått motstanden og holdt ord. In many contexts, motstå is used for ethical, psychological, or physical resistance rather than for active fighting.

Etymology and related terms. Motstå derives from mot ('opposition' or 'against') combined with stå ('to stand'), conveying the sense of standing against something. It is closely related to the Swedish motstå and the Danish modstå, reflecting common North Germanic roots. A closely related phrase is stå imot, which also means to stand against or to resist, often emphasizing a stance rather than deliberate action.