tolerate

verb

tol·​er·​ate ˈtä-lə-ˌrāt How to pronounce tolerate (audio)
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 adjective
tolerator noun
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 Nuts and seeds ground into smooth butters are generally easier to tolerate than whole ones. Amanda MacMillan, Health, 24 Mar. 2024 We are committed to excellence with every learner, every day, every way, and do not and will not tolerate behavior that runs contrary to this culture. Cincinnati Enquirer, The Enquirer, 24 Mar. 2024 Despite temperatures dropping back down below freezing, most spring bulbs can tolerate a light freeze of lows in the 30s to upper 20s and do not need coverage, according to University of Wisconsin-Madison Horticulture department. Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024 Games media is more likely to call out when diversity is absent or done poorly, and the kinds of anti-social behaviors that were once the hallmark of gaming culture are becoming less and less tolerated. Ash Parrish, The Verge, 18 Mar. 2024 Some crops can tolerate salinity better than others, but all have a breaking point where growth stops or damage starts to appear. The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2024 His memory embodies two principles that will militate against forever Putinism: the refusal to tolerate apathy and the refusal to accept that Russian politics is entirely a top-down operation. Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 13 Mar. 2024 California is also investigating complaints made by a group of former employees who say SpaceX tolerates frequent harassment of and discrimination against female workers. Collin Woodard / Jalopnik, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 Jack Antonoff won't tolerate any slander about New Jersey. Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tolerate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tolerate was in 1524

Dictionary Entries Near tolerate

Cite this Entry

“Tolerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tolerate. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tolerate

verb
tol·​er·​ate ˈtäl-ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce tolerate (audio)
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 How to pronounce tolerate (audio)
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 wellH. R. Litchfield & L. H. Dembo

More from Merriam-Webster on tolerate

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