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

Whether baseball is suffering compared to other sports is something the league and the union disagree on. —Evan Drellich, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025

Right guard Trey Smith did not suit up against Dallas due to an ankle injury, and during the game, right tackle Jawaan Taylor suffered a triceps injury. —Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 1 Dec. 2025

Many Chicago homeowners have been suffering from sticker shock, as property tax bills on the South and West sides have skyrocketed. —Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2025

Of course there will be families that are going to suffer. —Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 1 Dec. 2025

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