patience
noun
pa·tience
ˈpā-shən(t)s 
1
: the capacity, habit, or fact of being patient
2
chiefly British
: solitaire sense 2
Examples of patience in a Sentence
To be a biographer is a somewhat peculiar endeavor. It seems to me it requires not only the tact, patience, and thoroughness of a scholar but also the stamina of a horse.
—
Nancy Milford, Vanity Fair, August 2001
… in this time of bioethical conundrums, it is good to know that patience, good will, and personal morality will untie far more intellectual knots than the disarray of rancor, conflict, and special interests …
—Sherwin B. Nuland, New Republic, 13 Dec. 1999
Mind-numbing delays and irrelevant search results are enough to try the patience of the most saintly Web surfers.
—Neil Gross et al., Business Week, 14 June 1999
After a while, their ideological certitudes tried the patience of their own peoples …
—Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., New Yorker, 16 Nov. 1992
I don't have the patience to wait in line for hours just to buy a ticket.
Investors need to have patience. The economy will improve soon.
She treated her students with great patience and humor.
I don't have the patience to do crossword puzzles.
Nancy Milford, Vanity Fair, August 2001
… in this time of bioethical conundrums, it is good to know that patience, good will, and personal morality will untie far more intellectual knots than the disarray of rancor, conflict, and special interests …
—Sherwin B. Nuland, New Republic, 13 Dec. 1999
Mind-numbing delays and irrelevant search results are enough to try the patience of the most saintly Web surfers.
—Neil Gross et al., Business Week, 14 June 1999
After a while, their ideological certitudes tried the patience of their own peoples …
—Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., New Yorker, 16 Nov. 1992
I don't have the patience to wait in line for hours just to buy a ticket.
Investors need to have patience. The economy will improve soon.
She treated her students with great patience and humor.
I don't have the patience to do crossword puzzles.
Recent Examples on the Web
The real question is whether Bears fans have the patience.
—Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
This method will need plenty of time to work, so patience is key.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
The camps were more or less divided between people who think McCarthy crossed a line with staff in several instances, and others who see him as a top-tier editor with a passion for journalistic results and less patience for staff who fall short.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The plea for patience has done little to comfort Americans, as economic issues that had been a strength for Trump for a decade have evolved into a persistent weakness.
—Josh Boak, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patience
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
This method will need plenty of time to work, so patience is key.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
The camps were more or less divided between people who think McCarthy crossed a line with staff in several instances, and others who see him as a top-tier editor with a passion for journalistic results and less patience for staff who fall short.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The plea for patience has done little to comfort Americans, as economic issues that had been a strength for Trump for a decade have evolved into a persistent weakness.
—Josh Boak, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patience
Cite this Entry
“Patience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patience. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
patience
noun
pa·tience
ˈpā-shən(t)s
: the quality or state of being patient
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