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. 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

Other Word Forms

• sufferable adjective
• sufferableness noun
• sufferably adverb
• sufferer noun
• nonsufferable adjective
• nonsufferableness noun
• nonsufferably adverb
• outsuffer verb (used with object)
• presuffer verb
• unsufferable adjective
• unsufferableness noun
• unsufferably 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

"He was just telling his family members to not worry about him and that he is feeling comforted to be able to suffer with Christ."

Read more on Barron's

The past two years have seen Iran-backed groups including Palestinian militants Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Huthis in Yemen suffer heavy losses at Israel's hands.

Read more on Barron's

"Eli Katoa was taken to hospital after suffering seizure activity on the bench during the second half of yesterday's Pacific Championships match between Tonga and New Zealand," his club Melbourne Storm said in a statement.

Read more on Barron's

But several provinces in the east have suffered considerable damages to homes, infrastructure and crops.

Read more on Barron's

Salmond died in October 2024 at the age of 69 after suffering a heart attack while attending an event in North Macedonia.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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