comfort
Americanverb (used with object)
noun
-
relief in affliction; consolation; solace.
Her presence was a comfort to him.
-
a feeling of relief or consolation.
Her forgiveness afforded him great comfort.
-
a person or thing that gives consolation.
She was a great comfort to him.
-
a cause or matter of relief or satisfaction.
The patient's recovery was a comfort to the doctor.
-
a state of ease and satisfaction of bodily wants, with freedom from pain and anxiety.
He is a man who enjoys his comfort.
-
something that promotes such a state.
His wealth allows him to enjoy a high degree of comfort.
-
Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. a comforter or quilt.
-
Obsolete. strengthening aid; assistance.
noun
-
a state of ease or well-being
-
relief from affliction, grief, etc
-
a person, thing, or event that brings solace or ease
-
obsolete support
-
(usually plural) something that affords physical ease and relaxation
verb
-
to ease the pain of; soothe; cheer
-
to bring physical ease to
Synonym Usage
Comfort, console, relieve, soothe imply assuaging sorrow, worry, discomfort, or pain. To comfort is to lessen the sadness or sorrow of someone and to strengthen by inspiring with hope and restoring a cheerful outlook: to comfort a despairing person. Console, a more formal word, means to make grief or distress seem lighter, by means of kindness and thoughtful attentions: to console a bereaved parent. Relieve means to lighten, lessen, or remove pain, trouble, discomfort, or hardship: to relieve a needy person. Soothe means to pacify or calm: to soothe a child. See ease.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
comfortlessnessnoun
-
comfortingadjective
-
comfortlessadjective
-
uncomfortedadjective
-
comfortinglyadverb
-
comfortlesslyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
comfortsimple
-
comfortssimple
-
have comfortedperfect
-
has comfortedperfect
-
am comfortingprogressive
-
are comfortingprogressive
-
is comfortingprogressive
-
have been comfortingperfect progressive
-
has been comfortingperfect progressive
Past
-
comfortedsimple
-
had comfortedperfect
-
was comfortingprogressive
-
were comfortingprogressive
-
had been comfortingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of comfort
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb comfortien, from Anglo-French, Old French conforter, from Late Latin confortāre “to strengthen,” equivalent to con- con- ( def. ) + -fortāre, verb suffix formed from Latin fortis “strong”; noun derived from the verb
Explanation
To comfort someone is to give solace or to soothe. You might comfort your brother when his favorite team gets knocked out of the playoffs. The verb comfort comes from the Latin word comfortare, which means “strengthen greatly.” To give comfort is to shore up the mood or physical state of someone else. It might take a long time to comfort your mother after her cat disappears. As a noun, comfort is anything that provides satisfaction or a relaxed and easy feeling. You might think that the comfort of your new shoes cannot be surpassed.
Vocabulary lists containing comfort
Stay Strong: Forc and Fort
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act III
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
com-, con-
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"I tried to comfort them. Some spent the whole day reciting the Quran, others passed the time on TikTok. I just wanted everyone to stay calm," he said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
"One prisoner cannot comfort another. We have no choice but to cry. We are waiting for our turn, even though we do not know when it will happen," said Habtom.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
The filmmakers offered each various options of anonymity depending on their level of comfort.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
That is just a number I want to stay above for my own security and comfort.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
I wanted to sink into the hug, take every bit of comfort from it that I could.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
The biggest engines are often installed in pairs or quads, bestowing “Miami Vice”-style speed on large vessels packed with creature comforts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Fery grew up a short walk away from the All England Club and is enjoying the home comforts of staying with his family during the Championships.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
While car collectors pine for restored cars, many young women prefer restomods, short for restored and modified, that retain their vintage exterior but are updated with modern comforts and safety features.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
But contact is growing rapidly today, even if outsiders are barred from entering Indigenous territory, with members curious about the wider world -- and the modern comforts it can offer.
From Barron's ● May 18, 2026
Ironically, her logical, if demeaning, reply is the only one that comforts me.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
Meanwhile, at a sports hall in Las Rozas de Madrid just outside the capital, the displaced sprawled on camp beds, held their heads in their hands and comforted pets as they awaited news.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
If you have watched any of these — if they comforted you on your worst days and made good ones better — Burrows had a hand in making your life funnier.
From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026
I learned to regulate difficult emotions—sadness, anger, fear—much as I had comforted the wounded child alive within me.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
He told the BBC he was both overwhelmed and comforted by the massive police presence when he arrived at the centre, San Diego County's second largest mosque, which also houses a primary school.
From BBC ● May 22, 2026
I wanted to fall into her arms and be comforted, as I hadn’t been able to comfort Perilee.
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
I have another patient who spends time teaching her adult granddaughter all of her homespun recipes, and comforting her when she has disputes with her parents.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Appeals to history often carry the comforting suggestion that the past has only one story to tell.
From Slate ● Jul. 2, 2026
The calls are comforting, revolving around familiar topics such as health and the weather.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
For mains, the grilled rainbow trout with Carolina Gold rice and espelette-citrus beurre blanc was beautifully balanced, while the butternut squash agnolotti with Madeira foam and ricotta offered a rich, comforting counterpoint.
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026
The coffee’s aroma was strong and comforting, and I had to fight the urge to sneak downstairs into Mrs. Wigginbottom’s kitchen and pour myself another cup.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
