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suffer

verb suf·fer \ˈsə-fər\

: to experience pain, illness, or injury

: to experience something unpleasant (such as defeat, loss, or damage)

: to become worse because of being badly affected by something

suf·feredsuf·fer·ing \-f(ə-)riŋ\

Full Definition of SUFFER

transitive verb

a : to submit to or be forced to endure <suffer martyrdom>

b : to feel keenly : labor under <suffer thirst>

: undergo, experience

: to put up with especially as inevitable or unavoidable

: to allow especially by reason of indifference <the eagle suffers little birds to sing — Shakespeare>

intransitive verb

: to endure death, pain, or distress

: to sustain loss or damage

: to be subject to disability or handicap

— suf·fer·able \ˈsə-f(ə-)rə-bəl\ adjective

— suf·fer·able·ness noun

— suf·fer·ably \-blē\ adverb

— suf·fer·er \ˈsə-fər-ər\ noun

See suffer defined for English-language learners

See suffer defined for kids

Origin of SUFFER

Middle English suffren, from Anglo-French suffrir, from Vulgar Latin *sufferire, from Latin sufferre, from sub- up + ferre to bear — more at sub-, bear

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to SUFFER

Synonyms: endure, feel, have, know, pass, see, experience, sustain, taste, undergo, witness

Antonyms: ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto

Synonym Discussion of SUFFER

bear, suffer, endure, abide, tolerate, stand mean to put up with something trying or painful. bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking <forced to bear a tragic loss>. suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing <suffering many insults>. endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties <endured years of rejection>. abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest <cannot abide their rudeness>. tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful <refused to tolerate such treatment>. stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching <unable to stand teasing>.

Rhymes with SUFFER

bluffer, buffer, duffer, puffer, rougher, snuffer, stuffer

SUFFER Defined for Kids

suffer

verb suf·fer \ˈsə-fər\

suf·feredsuf·fer·ing

Definition of SUFFER for Kids

: to feel or endure pain, illness, or injury <She suffers from arthritis.>

: to experience something unpleasant <Wilbur was merely suffering the doubts and fears that often go with finding a new friend. — E. B. White, Charlotte's Web>

: to bear loss or damage <Business suffered during the storm.>

: to become worse <His grades are suffering.>

: ¹permit 1 <“I have done what man could. Suffer me to go.” — Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee>

— suf·fer·er \ˈsə-fər-ər\ noun