comfort

1 of 2

verb

com·​fort ˈkəm(p)-fərt How to pronounce comfort (audio)
comforted; comforting; comforts

transitive verb

1
: to give strength and hope to : cheer
comforted by the knowledge that the program will be fully funded
2
: to ease the grief or trouble of : console
The mother comforted her crying child.
The bereaved families of the victims were comforted by friends.
comfortingly adverb

comfort

2 of 2

noun

1
: strengthening aid:
a
: assistance, support
accused of giving aid and comfort to the enemy
b
: consolation in time of trouble or worry : solace
He turned to her for comfort when he lost his job.
2
a
: a feeling of relief or encouragement
It's a comfort to know that I can rely on you for help.
b
: contented well-being
a life of ease and comfort
3
: a satisfying or enjoyable experience
Seeing her son again after so many years was a great comfort.
4
: one that gives or brings comfort
all the comforts of home
Her grandchildren were always a great comfort to her.
comfortless adjective

Examples of comfort in a Sentence

Verb Our family was comforted by the outpouring of support from the community. We can comfort ourselves with the thought that the worst is over. Noun These boots provide warmth and comfort in the coldest temperatures. The car's seats are designed for comfort. The suites combine comfort with convenience. The drug gave some comfort to the patient. I found a cozy chair where I could read in comfort. He turned to her for comfort and support when he lost his job. They were great comforts to each other during that difficult time.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
When the clip picks up, Jasmine is backstage being comforted by her costar, Nikki. Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 But Take Note The Belly Balm has a warm, comforting scent that isn’t too overpowering, reminding us of shea butter or oats. Phoebe Sklansky, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024 Steeped in nostalgia, the film captures the uneasy yet comforting sensation of returning home. Holly Jones, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 Prebble retreated to the U.K., where she was comforted by other British playwrights who’d met resistance on Broadway. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Change is hard, but these comforting dishes will help ease the seasonal transition. Jenna Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 Andy Reid hugged a Shawnee Mission high school student in the moments after the shooting, and Jackson Mahomes comforted a kid separated from their parents. Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2024 Those murals were indeed very beautiful and restful, the timbered ceiling comforting and there was an air of joie de vive rather than Gallic snobisme. John Mariani, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 His visit to Israel comforted the country when Netanyahu could not. Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Noun
Quick wit and a comfort with exaggerated physicality are trademarks of both performances, which excel on the comedic level and struggle more during the dramatic turns. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 The photo may bring comfort to eagle-eyed royal watchers who have been hoping for weeks for a glimpse of Britain’s future queen. Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024 The ergonomic shape ensures optimal comfort, while rounded edges and smooth contours reduce the risk of injuries. Samantha McIntyre, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024 Now is the time to hop on board Amtrak’s long-distance California Zephyr and see the amazing snowpack from the comfort of the train’s observation car. Javier Panzar, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Enjoy the desert with cozy comforts in one of the property's hip cabins. Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2024 The sizable pressurized cabin is engineered for comfort and functionality, featuring large windows for natural light. Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 Procedural dramas — legal, medical, homicidal — are a durable form of comfort television, with familiar bands of lawyers, doctors and cops solving thorny problems in about 45 minutes of screen time. Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 This is hardly a novel technique, given the evolving hybridization of the documentary form, as filmmakers chase larger audiences with the narrative and aesthetic comforts of fiction. Guy Lodge, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'comfort.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English comforten, conforten "to strengthen spiritually, inspire with courage, exort, cheer up, encourage, invigorate," borrowed from Anglo-French conforter, comforter, borrowed from Late Latin confortāre "to strengthen, restore strength to, invigorate, cure" (Medieval Latin also "to cheer, reassure"), from Latin con- con- + Late Latin -fortāre, verbal derivative of Latin fortis "strong, robust" — more at fort

Noun

Middle English comfort, counfort "invigoration, encouragement, assurance, feeling of relief, pleasure, gratification," borrowed from Anglo-French comfort, confort, cunfort "solace, encouragement, enjoyment, satisfaction," noun derivative of conforter, comforter "to strengthen, encourage, solace" — more at comfort entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of comfort was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near comfort

Cite this Entry

“Comfort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comfort. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

comfort

1 of 2 verb
com·​fort ˈkəm(p)-fərt How to pronounce comfort (audio)
1
: to give strength and hope to : cheer
2
: to ease the grief or trouble of : console
comfortingly adverb

comfort

2 of 2 noun
1
: acts or words that comfort
2
: the feeling of the one that is comforted
find comfort in a mother's love
3
: something that makes a person comfortable
the comforts of home
comfortless adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on comfort

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