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

• endure
• experience
• feel
• have
• know
• pass
• see
• sustain
• taste
• undergo
• witness

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

Jennifer Crumbley is not the woman the prosecution has portrayed her to be, Smith argues, and has suffered enough already: She has been locked up for 23 hours a day for more than two years, with no contact with her son or husband. —Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 7 Apr. 2024

The vast majority of animals were found to be severely underweight and suffering from various illnesses. —Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024

The group had suffered a string of rejections recently as prominent Republicans and Democrats declined to run on its ticket. —Nicholas Nehamas, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024

Another man suffered wounds not considered life-threatening, police said. —Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024

The 19-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest during basketball practice at the University of Southern California in July last year. —Thomas Schlachter, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

But Oregon wildlife officials are counting their blessings: The driver of the vehicle suffered only minor injuries, and the salmon fatalities could have been much higher. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024

Country-rap performer Colt Ford is currently in the intensive care unit at the Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Arizona, after the artist suffered a heart attack on Thursday night (April 4) following a show at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row in Gilbert, Arizona. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024

Veteran tight end Tyler Higbee, who suffered a knee injury in the playoff loss to Detroit, will go on the physically-unable-to perform list, McVay said. —Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024

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 in silence
• suffer fools gladly
• suffer the consequences

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