suffer

verb

suf·​fer ˈsə-fər 

suffered; suffering ˈsə-f(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to submit to or be forced to endure

suffer martyrdom

b

: to feel keenly : labor under

suffer thirst

2

: undergo, experience

3

: to put up with especially as inevitable or unavoidable

4

: to allow especially by reason of indifference

The eagle suffers little birds to sing …

—William 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

ˈsə-f(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

sufferableness noun

sufferably

ˈsə-f(ə-)rə-blē 

adverb

sufferer

ˈsə-fər-ər 

noun

Synonyms of suffer

• undergo
• endure
• experience
• have
• see

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

Baron had a rough season after the Jets drafted him in the fifth round and then suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 14. —Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026

However, conventional electrolysis systems suffer from limitations due to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode, which requires high energy input and exhibits slow kinetics, thereby reducing overall process efficiency and economic feasibility. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026

After the game, Stars coach Glen Gulutzan told reporters that Lundkvist suffered a deep facial laceration, and will be evaluated when the team returns to Texas. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Apr. 2026

Donte DiVincenzo had to be helped off the floor in the opening minutes of Game 4 against Denver after suffering what was later revealed to be a torn Achilles tendon. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026

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

Phrases Containing suffer

• suffer fools gladly
• suffer in silence
• suffer the consequences

Rhymes for suffer

• buffer
• duffer
• kafir
• puffer
• rougher
• tougher

Kids Definition

suffer

verb

suf·​fer ˈsəf-ər 

suffered; suffering -(ə-)riŋ 

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

: permit entry 1 sense 1, allow

sufferable

ˈsəf-(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

sufferableness noun

sufferably

-blē 

adverb

sufferer

ˈsəf-ər-ər 

noun