tolerate
[tol-uh-reyt]
- to allow the existence, presence, practice, or act of without prohibition or hindrance; permit.
- to endure without repugnance; put up with: I can tolerate laziness, but not incompetence.
- Medicine/Medical. to endure or resist the action of (a drug, poison, etc.).
- Obsolete. to experience, undergo, or sustain, as pain or hardship.
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Origin of tolerate
Synonyms
See more synonyms for tolerate on Thesaurus.com2. support, accept.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for tolerate
Contemporary Examples
“The US cannot tolerate the idea of any rival economic entity,” Stone writes.
Revisions went back and forth for weeks before Caro finally signed off on versions he could tolerate.
Should she leave her husband and endure loneliness or tolerate his dalliance and keep a companion for old age?
Why tolerate toxicity in a powerful sphere of modern life that has the potential to—and does—benefit so many?
What you should want to create is a culture or community that immediately does not tolerate bigotry, harassment, and abuse.
Historical Examples
But that terrible monopoly, the Paris-Lyon-Mditerrane, will tolerate no rivals.
In the Heart of VosgesMatilda Betham-Edwards
To tolerate and accept it is to revive the dark evil ages afresh.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
They only tolerate the female Orders, and will only have one flock.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
I don't refer merely to the liaisons which we have had to tolerate.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
In the same way, he came to tolerate Matt—as a possession of his master.
White FangJack London
tolerate
- to treat with indulgence, liberality, or forbearance
- to permit
- to be able to bear; put up with
- med to have tolerance for (a drug, poison, etc)
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin tolerāre sustain; related to thole ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for tolerate
v.
1530s, from Latin toleratus, past participle of tolerare (see toleration). Related: Tolerated; tolerating.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
tolerate
(tŏl′ə-rāt′)- To allow without prohibiting or opposing; permit.
- To put up with; endure.
- To have tolerance for a substance or pathogen.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.