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
In the comments section, Jill and Derick were met with comforting messages from fans, friends and various family members. Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 14 Apr. 2024 But the one thing that’s clear is that at bedtime, people looking to get some sleep just loath those difficult-to-ignore dots of light ruining the comforting darkness needed to get some shuteye. Bryan Mena, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024 Island Paradise Spa Tower $99.99 This five-box tower spa gift set comes with a comforting waffle robe. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 12 Apr. 2024 The robotic teenager of the title becomes a vehicle through which the film explores memory, grief and what comforting company such a figure could offer the family that first bought him and now fears losing him. Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024 Such gestures convey all sorts of meanings, not altogether comforting for recipients. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024 Start talking or typing about anxiety and the app generates the kind of comforting, sympathetic statements therapists are trained to deliver. Matthew Perrone, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024 The vibe and mission Tabitha Hinson of A Cause for Tea told us the space aims to comfort and soothe the guests. Kristen Kornbluth, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2024 That may seem comforting, but decades of quickly suppressing fires has had unintended consequences. Mark Kreider, Discover Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
And Deborah, too, will always be tempted by the comfort of staying in the same place. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024 The gel-serum is jam-packed with ingredients that hydrate, soothe, comfort, and alleviate redness and sensitivity—all without causing further inflammation and irritation. Danielle Cohen, Glamour, 3 Apr. 2024 Winner: tie The Lexus RX will easily please shoppers looking for comfort, reasonable pricing and reputable build quality. Alex Nishimoto, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024 Toddlers can also benefit from the comfort of sleep sacks. Jessica Booth, Parents, 3 Apr. 2024 Enhance your workflow by leveraging leading applications such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, and more to achieve optimal productivity in the comfort of your home or office. Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024 The soles are made with slip-resistant rubber, which will certainly come in handy while jet-setting during the rainy spring season, while cork and foam insoles offer impeccable comfort and support for long days on your feet. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024 Plus, its filed with a soft bounce back down alternative that provides additional comfort for the neck and head. Jacqueline Laurean Yates, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2024 No matter how active your trip is, these shoes will prepare you to take it all on with style and comfort, thanks to supportive midsoles, adjustable straps, and even an odor-controlling exterior. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 23 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 18 Apr. 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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