1
: bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
2
: manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
3
: not hasty or impetuous
4
: steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity
5
a
: able or willing to bear
—used with of
b
: susceptible, admitting
patient of one interpretation
1
a
: an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment
cancer patients
psychiatric patients
b
: the recipient of any of various personal services
2
: one that is acted upon
are agents as well as patients and observers in the world—
C. H. Whiteley
C. H. Whiteley
Synonyms
Examples of patient in a Sentence
Adjective
To pry apart violent Islamic radicals, the United States has to become knowledgeable about internal cleavages and be patient in exploiting them.
—Samantha Power, New York Times Book Review, 29 July 2007
I pack them into the compartment for a visit, pack till it's full far beyond capacity and weep with them, share with them my scanty bit of good fortune, tell them I care, tell them be patient, tell them I'm on their side …
—John Edgar Wideman, Harper's, December 2003
There's no sense being patient with people who make you wait, because they'll only make you wait longer the next time.
—Andrew A. Rooney, And More by Andy Rooney, (1979) 1982
I hate having to stand in long lines. I'm just not very patient.
The teacher treated her students in a patient and understanding way.
“Aren't you finished yet?” “Be patient. I'll be done soon.”
Proofreading requires patient attention to detail.
They put in years of patient labor on the project.
Noun
Several patients were waiting to see the doctor.
the nurse asked the patient to change into a paper gown
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Samantha Power, New York Times Book Review, 29 July 2007
I pack them into the compartment for a visit, pack till it's full far beyond capacity and weep with them, share with them my scanty bit of good fortune, tell them I care, tell them be patient, tell them I'm on their side …
—John Edgar Wideman, Harper's, December 2003
There's no sense being patient with people who make you wait, because they'll only make you wait longer the next time.
—Andrew A. Rooney, And More by Andy Rooney, (1979) 1982
I hate having to stand in long lines. I'm just not very patient.
The teacher treated her students in a patient and understanding way.
“Aren't you finished yet?” “Be patient. I'll be done soon.”
Proofreading requires patient attention to detail.
They put in years of patient labor on the project.
Noun
Several patients were waiting to see the doctor.
the nurse asked the patient to change into a paper gown
See More
Recent Examples on the WebSarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 20 Nov. 2023
Courtesy Bruce McIntyre McIntyre’s lawsuit is ongoing, and in a statement to NBC News, Montefiore Medical Center declined to comment, citing pending litigation and patient privacy regulations.
—Zoe Rohrich, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2023
Advertisement The costly legislation — promoted by unions as a way to curb the healthcare worker shortage and in turn improve patient care — was signed into law even as Newsom has warned about the state’s shaky financial future, vetoing dozens of bills last month in the name of cost savings.
—Mackenzie Mays, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2023
These companies typically don’t take insurance and charge little or nothing for patient visits.
—Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 2 Nov. 2023
After last season’s Super Bowl hangover disaster, the Rams essentially told their fans to be patient and wait until 2024.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023
In Kocher’s view, physicians who really understand the patient population that the company is serving add immense value, such as geriatric medicine specialists working in Medicare Advantage or obstetricians founding women’s health companies.
—Christina Farr, STAT, 9 Nov. 2023
Be patient: The transition from clumpy flour paste to rich, thick gravy takes a few minutes, but don't rush it.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2023
But sitting here, in an unfinished WeWork office space, is this slender, limber apex predator in his natural habitat, and an extremely patient one.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2023
Anna Schecter, NBC News, 24 Nov. 2023
He was stopped at an Israeli military checkpoint while traveling in a United Nations convoy evacuating patients and staff from the facility, according to a spokesman for the Health Ministry in Gaza.
—Dov Lieber, WSJ, 24 Nov. 2023
Khaled Abu Samra was one of seven al-Shifa doctors who accompanied about 260 patients in the convoy leaving the hospital.
—Louisa Loveluck, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2023
Items will be distributed to local patients at La Maestra’s El Cajon and City Heights locations.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023
Treating these patients can be difficult, said Gnaneswar Ch, project leader of the Snake Conservation and Snakebite Mitigation Project at the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Center for Herpetology, where the Irula co-op is located.
—Kamala Thiagarajan, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
On Saturday, hundreds of patients and civilians who had been sheltering at Al-Shifa left the complex.
—Michael Levenson, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023
Advertisement One patient was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries; the others suffered minor injuries.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
Al-Shifa officials have been warning that the medical complex was critically low on fuel and other supplies, and that the situation would affect the health and survival of patients.
—NBC News, 12 Nov. 2023
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Adjective
Not Letting Your Turkey Rest Be patient and don’t be quick to carve.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 20 Nov. 2023
Courtesy Bruce McIntyre McIntyre’s lawsuit is ongoing, and in a statement to NBC News, Montefiore Medical Center declined to comment, citing pending litigation and patient privacy regulations.
—Zoe Rohrich, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2023
Advertisement The costly legislation — promoted by unions as a way to curb the healthcare worker shortage and in turn improve patient care — was signed into law even as Newsom has warned about the state’s shaky financial future, vetoing dozens of bills last month in the name of cost savings.
—Mackenzie Mays, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2023
These companies typically don’t take insurance and charge little or nothing for patient visits.
—Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 2 Nov. 2023
After last season’s Super Bowl hangover disaster, the Rams essentially told their fans to be patient and wait until 2024.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023
In Kocher’s view, physicians who really understand the patient population that the company is serving add immense value, such as geriatric medicine specialists working in Medicare Advantage or obstetricians founding women’s health companies.
—Christina Farr, STAT, 9 Nov. 2023
Be patient: The transition from clumpy flour paste to rich, thick gravy takes a few minutes, but don't rush it.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2023
But sitting here, in an unfinished WeWork office space, is this slender, limber apex predator in his natural habitat, and an extremely patient one.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2023
Noun
The militant group and doctors have denied that accusation, while most patients and staff have now evacuated the medical complex after it was raided by the Israeli military.
—Anna Schecter, NBC News, 24 Nov. 2023
He was stopped at an Israeli military checkpoint while traveling in a United Nations convoy evacuating patients and staff from the facility, according to a spokesman for the Health Ministry in Gaza.
—Dov Lieber, WSJ, 24 Nov. 2023
Khaled Abu Samra was one of seven al-Shifa doctors who accompanied about 260 patients in the convoy leaving the hospital.
—Louisa Loveluck, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2023
Items will be distributed to local patients at La Maestra’s El Cajon and City Heights locations.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023
Treating these patients can be difficult, said Gnaneswar Ch, project leader of the Snake Conservation and Snakebite Mitigation Project at the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Center for Herpetology, where the Irula co-op is located.
—Kamala Thiagarajan, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
On Saturday, hundreds of patients and civilians who had been sheltering at Al-Shifa left the complex.
—Michael Levenson, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023
Advertisement One patient was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries; the others suffered minor injuries.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
Al-Shifa officials have been warning that the medical complex was critically low on fuel and other supplies, and that the situation would affect the health and survival of patients.
—NBC News, 12 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'patient.' 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
Adjective and Noun
Middle English pacient, from Anglo-French, from Latin patient-, patiens, from present participle of pati to suffer; perhaps akin to Greek pēma suffering
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of patient was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing patient
Dictionary Entries Near patient
Cite this Entry
“Patient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patient. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
patient
1 of 2 adjective
pa·tient
ˈpā-shənt 
1
: putting up with pains or hardships calmly or without complaint
2
: showing calm self-control
3
: not hasty or reckless
4
: steadfast sense 2, persevering
years of patient labor
patiently
adverb
patient
2 of 2 noun
: an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment
Medical Definition
patient
noun
pa·tient
ˈpā-shənt
1
: a sick individual especially when awaiting or under the care and treatment of a physician or surgeon
the hospital is equipped to handle 500 patients
2
: a client for medical service (as of a physician or dentist)
a good practice with a large number of patients
More from Merriam-Webster on patient
Nglish: Translation of patient for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of patient for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about patient
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