patient

adjective

pa·tient | \ ˈpā-shənt

Definition of patient

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

5a : able or willing to bear —used with of

b : susceptible, admitting patient of one interpretation

patient

noun

pa·tient | \ ˈpā-shənt

Definition of patient (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : 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

Other Words from patient Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about patient

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Synonyms & Antonyms for patient

Synonyms: Adjective

forbearing, long-suffering, stoic (or stoical), tolerant, uncomplaining

Synonyms: Noun

case

Antonyms: Adjective

complaining, fed up, impatient, kvetching, kvetchy, protesting

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Be patient, because your bookshelf could take months to perfect. — Danielle Tullo, House Beautiful, "Want an Instagram-Worthy Rainbow Bookshelf? Here's How to Actually Do It," 24 July 2018 Jenkins loves his characters, and trusts us to love them enough to be patient. — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "If Beale Street Could Talk adapts James Baldwin’s novel into a haunting, gorgeous film," 18 Sep. 2018 The 28-year-old was patient in waiting for his chance and has proven himself a key asset to Real Madrid's successes this season - even netting four times across the campaign. — SI.com, "Real Madrid Defender Nacho Set for Significant Pay Rise as Report Claims New Contract Is Close," 27 June 2018 Doctors and nurses enter patient information, including age, length of stay and admission date, into the software, and an animated map shows where patients are coming from and when. — Mallory Locklear, Discover Magazine, "With Big Data and Predictive Analytics, Scientists Are Getting Smarter About Outbreaks," 8 Nov. 2018 Investors are often told to be patient about a company’s stock, focusing more on fundamentals like innovative research than a stock’s volatility or temporary disruptions in a market. — The Christian Science Monitor, "Advice from the ants about grasshopper companies," 7 June 2018 Protecting hospitals’ computer networks is crucial to preserving patient privacy—and even life itself. — Scientific American, "Defending Hospitals against Life-Threatening Cyber Attacks," 25 Apr. 2018 There’s actually a good reason Belt shouldn’t be too patient at the plate, and that’s his two-strike batting average of .167 (5-for-30), which is on par with his .163 career mark. — John Shea, San Francisco Chronicle, "Why Giants’ Brandon Belt gets bum rap on strike-zone approach," 20 Apr. 2018 There is severe depression across much of the patient population. — Jacqueline Detwiler, Popular Mechanics, "The Heroes of Science Who Are Unlocking the Brain," 3 Oct. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Consuming 3 grams of powdered ginger per day helped patients improve their glycemic indices compared to a placebo, according to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "The 5 Best Health Benefits of Ginger Water," 11 Jan. 2019 Imagine if this patient went to a doctor’s office for some care only to be told that the providers there don’t see his kind. — German Lopez, Vox, "The simple idea that could help end America’s opioid epidemic," 26 Dec. 2018 More than half of the cases have resulted in death (including those of 17 health workers), while 177 patients have recovered, including a newborn baby. — Cathleen O'grady, Ars Technica, "Ebola outbreak reaches city of 1 million residents," 14 Dec. 2018 Fasting at least 12 hours a day; patients usually don’t eat anything after 7 p.m. until the next morning. — Linda Marsa, Discover Magazine, "A New Treatment for Alzheimer's? It Starts With Lifestyle," 16 Nov. 2018 As a last step, Marchbein urges patients to coat hands with a thick moisturizer, like CeraVe, and dab Aquaphor on cuticles and lips before hitting the sheets. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "The Definitive Guide to Preventing Dry Skin—From a Top Dermatologist," 26 Oct. 2018 At her clinic, patients can partake in every major anti-aging treatment (injectables, lasers, etc.), including Sturm's signature vampire facial and blood-infused cream. — Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "Bella Hadid Just Revealed The One Secret To Her Glowy Skin," 18 Oct. 2018 In today’s medical system, all patients need a team to provide excellent care. — Melissa Stein, STAT, "Privacy laws are hurting the care of patients with addiction," 13 July 2018 Pfizer is rolling back price hikes, so American patients don’t pay more. — Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY, "Pfizer reverses drug price increases after President Trump blasted the company," 11 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'patient.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near patient

Statistics for patient

Last Updated

18 Jan 2019

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Time Traveler for patient

The first known use of patient was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for patient

patient

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of patient

(Entry 1 of 2)

: able to remain calm and not become annoyed when waiting for a long time or when dealing with problems or difficult people

: done in a careful way over a long period of time without hurrying

patient

noun

English Language Learners Definition of patient (Entry 2 of 2)

: a person who receives medical care or treatment

See the full definition for patient in the English Language Learners Dictionary

patient

adjective

pa·tient | \ ˈpā-shənt

Kids Definition of patient

(Entry 1 of 2)

: able to or showing the ability to remain calm when dealing with a difficult or annoying situation, task, or person a patient response a patient teacher

patient

noun

Kids Definition of patient (Entry 2 of 2)

: a person under medical care or treatment

patient

noun

pa·tient | \ ˈpā-shənt

Medical Definition of patient

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