suffer

[suhf-er]

verb (used without object)

1. to undergo or feel pain or distress.

   The patient is still suffering.

2. to sustain injury, disadvantage, or loss.

   One's health suffers from overwork. The business suffers from lack of capital.

3. to undergo a penalty, as of death.

   The traitor was made to suffer on the gallows.

4. to endure pain, disability, death, etc., patiently or willingly.

verb (used with object)

1. to undergo, be subjected to, or endure (pain, distress, injury, loss, or anything unpleasant).

   to suffer the pangs of conscience.

   Synonyms: sustain

2. to undergo or experience (any action, process, or condition).

   to suffer change.

3. to tolerate or allow.

   I do not suffer fools gladly.

   Synonyms: abide, stand, stomach

suffer

/ ˈsʌfə /

verb

1. to undergo or be subjected to (pain, punishment, etc)

2. (tr) to undergo or experience (anything)

   to suffer a change of management

3. (intr) to be set at a disadvantage

   this author suffers in translation

4. to be prepared to endure (pain, death, etc)

   he suffers for the cause of freedom

5. archaic,  (tr) to permit (someone to do something)

   suffer the little children to come unto me

6. 1. to be ill with, esp recurrently

   2. to be given to

      he suffers from a tendency to exaggerate

Usage

It is better to avoid using the words suffer and sufferer in relation to chronic illness or disability. They may be considered demeaning and disempowering. Suitable alternative are have , experience , be diagnosed with

Other Word Forms

• sufferer noun
• sufferable adjective
• sufferableness noun
• sufferably adverb
• nonsufferable adjective
• nonsufferableness noun
• nonsufferably adverb
• outsuffer verb (used with object)
• presuffer verb
• unsufferable adjective
• unsufferableness noun
• unsufferably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of suffer¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English suff(e)ren, from Latin sufferre, from suf- suf- ( def. ) + ferre “to bring, carry”; compare Old French sofrir, from Vulgar Latin sufferīre (unrecorded); bear ¹ ( def. ), -phore ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of suffer¹

C13: from Old French soffrir, from Latin sufferre, from _sub- + ferre to bear

Idioms and Phrases

see not suffer fools gladly.

Example Sentences

The president’s agenda suffered several setbacks this week, as federal judges across the country ruled his administration had broken the law in various instances.

From Los Angeles Times

The Dodgers struggle against Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes and their ninth-inning rally is too little, too late as they suffer their fifth loss in six games.

From Los Angeles Times

Her speech gave a number of headline policy pledges, and said that Wales had suffered "26 years of languishing on the bottom of every league table".

From BBC

"We're always thinking about our colleagues and wondering 'did they suffer?' They could be here with us now. We are deeply, deeply sad."

From BBC

She said: "You restricted the blood flow to his brain, he slipped into unconsciousness and suffered a cardiac arrest."

From BBC

Related Words

• accept 
• bleed 
• encounter 
• experience 
• feel 
• go through 
• have 
• hurt 
• know 
• receive 
• see 
• support 
• sustain 
• take 
• undergo