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suffer
[ suhf-er ]
/ ˈsʌf ər /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
verb (used without object)
to undergo or feel pain or distress: The patient is still suffering.
to sustain injury, disadvantage, or loss: One's health suffers from overwork. The business suffers from lack of capital.
to undergo a penalty, as of death: The traitor was made to suffer on the gallows.
to endure pain, disability, death, etc., patiently or willingly.
verb (used with object)
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Origin of suffer
OTHER WORDS FROM suffer
Words nearby suffer
Suez, Suez Canal, Suez Canal crisis, suf-, suff., suffer, sufferable, sufferance, suffer fools gladly, suffering, Suffern
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use suffer in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for suffer
suffer
/ (ˈsʌfə) /
verb
to undergo or be subjected to (pain, punishment, etc)
(tr) to undergo or experience (anything)to suffer a change of management
(intr) to be set at a disadvantagethis author suffers in translation
to be prepared to endure (pain, death, etc)he suffers for the cause of freedom
(tr) archaic to permit (someone to do something)suffer the little children to come unto me
suffer from
- to be ill with, esp recurrently
- to be given tohe suffers from a tendency to exaggerate
Derived forms of suffer
sufferer, nounWord Origin for suffer
C13: from Old French soffrir, from Latin sufferre, from sub- + ferre to bear
usage for suffer
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
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with suffer
suffer
see not suffer fools gladly.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.