tolerate

[tol-uh-reyt]

verb (used with object)

tolerated, tolerating 

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)

Other Word Forms

• tolerative adjective
• tolerator noun
• nontolerated adjective
• nontolerative adjective
• untolerated adjective
• untolerating adjective
• untolerative 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

Viruses containing an avian-like PB1 gene were able to tolerate the high temperatures associated with fever and caused serious disease in mice.

Read more on Science Daily

Officers should not have to tolerate these incidents as part of the job, Mr Singleton added.

Read more on BBC

Other chaparral plants do not rely on fire but instead simply tolerate it.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“This behavior does not reflect our values and the culture of our company, and we will not tolerate that kind of language under any circumstances,” the company said.

Read more on Barron's

Tuesday's mammoth session of parliament ended late in the evening in Rome with a final speech by a governing party MP vowing that violence against women "will not be tolerated, will not go unpunished."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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