definitions

tolerate

[ tol-uh-reyt ]
/ ˈtɒl əˌreɪt /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tolerate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), tol·er·at·ed, tol·er·at·ing.

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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RELATED WORDS

brook, accept, countenance, endure, permit, condone, abide, authorize, undergo, stomach, receive, bear, pocket, admit, humor, sustain, stand, have, sanction, go

Nearby words

tolerance, tolerance dose, tolerance zone, tolerant, tolerantly, tolerate, toleration, tolerogenic, toleware, tolidine, tolima

Origin of tolerate

1525–35; < Latin tolerātus, past participle of tolerāre to bear (akin to thole2); see -ate1
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for tolerate

British Dictionary definitions for tolerate

tolerate

/ (ˈtɒləˌreɪt) /

verb (tr)

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)
Derived Formstolerative, adjectivetolerator, noun

Word Origin for tolerate

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for tolerate

tolerate

v.

1530s, from Latin toleratus, past participle of tolerare (see toleration). Related: Tolerated; tolerating.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for tolerate

tolerate

[ tŏl′ə-rāt′ ]

v.

To allow without prohibiting or opposing; permit.
To put up with; endure.
To have tolerance for a substance or pathogen.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.