suffer

verb

suf·​fer ˈsə-fər How to pronounce suffer (audio)
suffered; suffering ˈsə-f(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce suffer (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to submit to or be forced to endure
suffer martyrdom
b
: to feel keenly : labor under
suffer thirst
2
3
: to put up with especially as inevitable or unavoidable
4
: to allow especially by reason of indifference
the eagle suffers little birds to singWilliam Shakespeare

intransitive verb

1
: to endure death, pain, or distress
2
: to sustain loss or damage
3
: to be subject to disability or handicap
sufferable adjective
sufferableness noun
sufferably adverb
sufferer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for suffer

bear, suffer, endure, abide, tolerate, stand mean to put up with something trying or painful.

bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

Examples of suffer in a Sentence

He died instantly and did not suffer. He suffered a heart attack and died instantly. She suffered an injury during the game. We suffered a great deal during the war. I hate to see a child suffer. She suffered through another one of their long visits. The team suffered a defeat in the play-offs. Their relationship suffered because of her work.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Jennings entered the game injured and also appeared to have suffered another injury during Sunday's loss. James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025 The Spaniard suffered a small ankle injury last week and didn’t look entirely comfortable on court as his opponent seized on the opportunity. Ben Church, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025 The New York Giants won their first game of the season with Jaxson Dart as the starter, but Malik Nabers suffered a significant leg injury. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025 No, the damage here won’t be suffered by Comey. Billy Ray, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suffer

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sufferen, suffren, borrowed from Anglo-French suffrir, going back to Vulgar Latin *sufferīre, re-formation of Latin sufferre "to submit to, endure," from suf-, assimilated form of sub- sub- + ferre "to carry, bear" — more at bear entry 2

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Suffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suffer. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

suffer

verb
suf·​fer ˈsəf-ər How to pronounce suffer (audio)
suffered; suffering -(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce suffer (audio)
1
: to feel or endure pain
2
: to experience something unpleasant
suffer a defeat
3
: to bear loss or damage
the business suffered during the storm
4
sufferable adjective
sufferableness noun
sufferably adverb
sufferer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on suffer

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