forbear

[ fawr-bair ]

/ fɔrˈbɛər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR forbear ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), for·bore, for·borne, for·bear·ing.

to refrain or abstain from; desist from.

to keep back; withhold.

Obsolete. to endure.

verb (used without object), for·bore, for·borne, for·bear·ing.

to refrain; hold back.

to be patient or self-controlled when subject to annoyance or provocation.

Words nearby forbear

forasmuch as, forasmuchas, foray, forb, forbade, forbear, forbearance, forbes, forbes disease, forbes-robertson, forbid

Origin of forbear

before 900; Middle English forberen, Old English forberan. See for-, bear¹

SYNONYMS FOR forbear

1 forgo, sacrifice, renounce.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR forbear ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM forbear

for·bear·er, nounfor·bear·ing·ly, adverbnon·for·bear·ing, adjectivenon·for·bear·ing·ly, adverb

un·for·bear·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for forbearing

Some readers therefore concluded that the forbearing Dr. Spielvogel must be the hero of the novel.
Who Is Philip Roth’s Portnoy Satirizing?|Bernard Avishai|August 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Lorimer listened patiently with a forbearing smile on his open, ruddy countenance.
Thelma|Marie Corelli
She would be so patient, forbearing, tender, she would at last force the child to love her.
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Vol. 17, No. 97, January, 1876|Various
They parted thus in renewed friendship, Donald forbearing to ask Henchard for meanings that were not very plain to him.
The Mayor of Casterbridge|Thomas Hardy

Although such conduct was hard to excuse, the people were forbearing until a great evil fell upon the settlement.
American Leaders and Heroes|Wilbur Fisk Gordy
No, don't reply; I know you will be as forbearing toward me.
The Barrier|Allen French

British Dictionary definitions for forbearing (1 of 2)

forbear¹

/ (fɔːˈbɛə) /

verb -bears, -bearing, -bore or -borne

(when intr, often foll by from or an infinitive) to cease or refrain (from doing something)

archaic to tolerate or endure (misbehaviour, mistakes, etc)

Derived forms of forbear

forbearer, nounforbearingly, adverb

Word Origin for forbear

Old English forberan; related to Gothic frabairan to endure

British Dictionary definitions for forbearing (2 of 2)

forbear²

/ (ˈfɔːˌbɛə) /

noun

a variant spelling of forebear

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012