tolerate

verb

tol·​er·​ate ˈtä-lə-ˌrāt 

tolerated; tolerating

transitive verb

1

a

: to allow to be or to be done without prohibition, hindrance, or contradiction

b

: to put up with

learn to tolerate one another

2

: to endure or resist the action of (something, such as a drug or food) without serious side effects or discomfort : exhibit physiological tolerance for

tolerative

ˈtä-lə-ˌrā-tiv 

adjective

tolerator

ˈtä-lə-ˌrā-tər 

noun

Synonyms of tolerate

• let
• allow
• ignore
• permit

Choose the Right Synonym for tolerate

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 tolerate in a Sentence

Our teacher will not tolerate bad grammar.

Racist or sexist behavior will not be tolerated.

I can't tolerate that noise.

The government cannot tolerate lawlessness.

How can you tolerate such laziness?

These plants tolerate drought well.

I don't like my boss, but I tolerate him.

Recent Examples on the Web

But this type of behavior can't be tolerated. —Jim Defede, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026

The refrigerator door is best reserved for stable, less-perishable items that can tolerate a little temperature variation. —Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 19 Apr. 2026

Species such as 'Blue Fortune', 'Blue Boa,' or selections from the Acapulco® group tolerate Southeast summers best, attract tons of pollinators, and are deer and rabbit resistant. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2026

Senior Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qammati told Lebanon’s Al-Jadeed TV Saturday that the group will not tolerate any Israeli strikes similar to what happened after the November 2024 truce, when Israel continued to carry out almost daily airstrikes. —ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin toleratus, past participle of tolerare to endure, put up with; akin to Old English tholian to bear, Latin tollere to lift up, latus carried (suppletive past participle of ferre), Greek tlēnai to bear

First Known Use

1524, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for tolerate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

tolerate

verb

tol·​er·​ate ˈtäl-ə-ˌrāt 

tolerated; tolerating

1

: to allow something to be or be done without making a move to stop it : put up with

refused to tolerate such treatment

2

: to withstand the action of

plants that tolerate drought

tolerate a drug

toleration

ˌtäl-ə-ˈrā-shən

noun

Medical Definition

tolerate

transitive verb

tol·​er·​ate ˈtäl-ə-ˌrāt 

tolerated; tolerating

: to endure or resist the action of (as a drug or food) without serious side effects or discomfort : exhibit physiological tolerance for

a premature baby … does not tolerate fats very well

—H. R. Litchfield & L. H. Dembo