suffer

[ suhf-er ]

verb (used without object)

1. to undergo or feel pain or distress:

   The patient is still suffering.

2. to sustain injury, disadvantage, or loss:

   One's health suffers from overwork. The business suffers from lack of capital.

3. to undergo a penalty, as of death:

   The traitor was made to suffer on the gallows.

4. to endure pain, disability, death, etc., patiently or willingly.

verb (used with object)

1. to undergo, be subjected to, or endure (pain, distress, injury, loss, or anything unpleasant):

   to suffer the pangs of conscience.

   Synonyms: sustain

2. to undergo or experience (any action, process, or condition):

   to suffer change.

3. to tolerate or allow:

   I do not suffer fools gladly.

   Synonyms: abide, stand, stomach

suffer

/ ˈsʌfə /

verb

1. to undergo or be subjected to (pain, punishment, etc)
2. tr to undergo or experience (anything)

   to suffer a change of management

3. intr to be set at a disadvantage

   this author suffers in translation

4. to be prepared to endure (pain, death, etc)

   he suffers for the cause of freedom

5. archaic.
   tr to permit (someone to do something)

   suffer the little children to come unto me

6. suffer from
   1. to be ill with, esp recurrently
   2. to be given to

      he suffers from a tendency to exaggerate

Usage

It is better to avoid using the words suffer and sufferer in relation to chronic illness or disability. They may be considered demeaning and disempowering. Suitable alternative are have , experience , be diagnosed with

Derived Forms

• ˈsufferer, noun

Other Words From

• suffer·a·ble adjective
• suffer·a·ble·ness noun
• suffer·a·bly adverb
• suffer·er noun
• non·suffer·a·ble adjective
• non·suffer·a·ble·ness noun
• non·suffer·a·bly adverb
• outsuffer verb (used with object)
• pre·suffer verb
• un·suffer·a·ble adjective
• un·suffer·a·ble·ness noun
• un·suffer·a·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of suffer¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English suff(e)ren, from Latin sufferre, from suf- suf- ( def ) + ferre “to bring, carry”; compare Old French sofrir, from Vulgar Latin sufferīre (unrecorded); bear ¹( def ), -phore ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of suffer¹

C13: from Old French soffrir, from Latin sufferre, from sub- + ferre to bear

Idioms and Phrases

see not suffer fools gladly .

Example Sentences

The second miracle attributed to Mr Acutis came in 2024, when a university student in Florence was healed despite having bleeding on the brain after suffering head trauma.

From BBC

"It adequately reflects the strong condemnation by the international community for the crimes committed by him and acknowledges the significant harm and suffering caused to the victims," she added.

From BBC

Defence lawyers said she suffered a mental breakdown and wanted to die with her children but left the car at the last minute.

From BBC

"My sister, three years younger than me, has suffered from panic disorder for many years. She continues to inspire my research questions and my dedication to answering them."

From Science Daily

“Because making potent phages took considerable time and work, the quality often suffered,” Zeldovich writes.

From Salon

Related Words

• accept
• bleed
• encounter
• experience
• feel
• go through
• have
• hurt
• know
• receive
• see
• support
• sustain
• take
• undergo