tolerate

[ tol-uh-reyt ]

verb (used with object)

, tol·er·at·ed, tol·er·at·ing.

1. to allow the existence, presence, practice, or act of without prohibition or hindrance; permit.
2. to endure without repugnance; put up with:

   I can tolerate laziness, but not incompetence.

   Synonyms: accept, support

3. Medicine/Medical. to endure or resist the action of (a drug, poison, etc.).
4. Obsolete. to experience, undergo, or sustain, as pain or hardship.

tolerate

/ ˈtɒləˌreɪt /

verb

1. to treat with indulgence, liberality, or forbearance
2. to permit
3. to be able to bear; put up with
4. med to have tolerance for (a drug, poison, etc)

Derived Forms

• ˈtolerative, adjective
• ˈtolerˌator, noun

Other Words From

• toler·ative adjective
• toler·ator noun
• non·toler·ated adjective
• non·toler·ative adjective
• un·toler·ated adjective
• un·toler·ating adjective
• un·toler·ative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tolerate¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin tolerātus “borne,” past participle of tolerāre “to bear”; akin to thole ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of tolerate¹

C16: from Latin tolerāre sustain; related to thole ²

Example Sentences

Kids that are growing up today, they just aren’t tolerating anything and I do love that.

From Washington Post

He then said he could not use it because, as he has gotten older, his stomach cannot tolerate hot, spicy food.

From Washington Post

We must affirm that this type of behavior is not now, will not be tomorrow and will never be tolerated in the United States Congress.

From Washington Post

For years, defense officials have said that they do not tolerate extremism in the ranks — a point that senior defense officials repeated Tuesday.

From Washington Post

However, we needed to fly over people to get feedback about how people would tolerate the minimized boom.

From Quanta Magazine

“The US cannot tolerate the idea of any rival economic entity,” Stone writes.

From The Daily Beast

He also wrote, “Torture is not a thing that we can tolerate.”

From The Daily Beast

Revisions went back and forth for weeks before Caro finally signed off on versions he could tolerate.

From The Daily Beast

Should she leave her husband and endure loneliness or tolerate his dalliance and keep a companion for old age?

From The Daily Beast

Why tolerate toxicity in a powerful sphere of modern life that has the potential to—and does—benefit so many?

From The Daily Beast

I cannot believe that a good God would create or tolerate a Devil, nor that he would allow the Devil to tempt man.

From Project Gutenberg

Her left knee was supported on pillows, and the bed-clothes were raised away from it, for it could tolerate no weight whatever.

From Project Gutenberg

But if the "great public" will only tolerate one as a pupil long enough, eventually, one must succeed.

From Project Gutenberg

An ear accustomed to the fine tone of a good violin will not now tolerate a bad piano-forte.

From Project Gutenberg

But I would tolerate, welcome, indeed, plead for a stiff protective duty upon foreign goods.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abide
• accept
• brook
• condone
• countenance
• endure
• permit
• stand for