suffer
verb (used without object)
to undergo or feel pain or distress.
were suffering
-
past progressiveof suffer.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Around 84,000 homes were suffering water disruptions as of Wednesday.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
They have also struggled to get on top of the operation of the new Mercedes engine, feeling for the first time that they were suffering for not being a works partner of a manufacturer.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
After his dairy reopened following an outbreak that sickened five children in 2011, he revealed how much people were suffering without his product in a celebratory video.
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
Heading into May, cybersecurity stocks were suffering from the AI-disruption narrative that had hurt other software stocks.
From MarketWatch ● May 27, 2026
The courtyard and the house were suffering from serious neglect.
From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs
