English Dictionary

Definition of “suffer”

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suffer (ˈsʌfəPronunciation for suffer) 

Definitions

verb

  1. to undergo or be subjected to (pain, punishment, etc)
  2. (tr) to undergo or experience (anything)  ⇒ to suffer a change of management 
  3. (intr) to be set at a disadvantage  ⇒ this author suffers in translation 
  4. to be prepared to endure (pain, death, etc)  ⇒ he suffers for the cause of freedom 
  5. (tr) archaic to permit (someone to do something)  ⇒ suffer the little children to come unto me 
  6. See suffer from

Alternative Forms

ˈsufferer noun

Word Origin

C13: from Old French soffrir,  from Latin sufferre,  from sub- + ferre to bear

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= be in pain hurt, ache, be racked have a bad time go through a lot go through the mill feel wretched
= be affected have trouble with be afflicted be troubled with
= undergo, experience, sustain, feel, bear, go through, endure,
= deteriorate, decline, get worse fall off, be impaired
= tolerate, stand, put up with, support, bear, endure, brook, hack, abide,
= be shown to disadvantage be handicapped appear in a poor light
= allow, let, permit,

Translations

  • British English: suffer Pronunciation for suffer If you suffer pain or an illness, or if you suffer from a pain or illness, you are badly affected by it.She was very ill, and suffering great pain. He was suffering from cancer.ˈsʌfə VERB She was very ill, and suffering great pain. He was suffering from cancer.
  • Spanish: sufrir Pronunciation for sufrir v
  • French: souffrir Pronunciation for souffrir vi
  • German: leiden Pronunciation for leiden v
  • Chinese: 遭受Pronunciation for 遭受 v
  • Arabic: يُعانِيPronunciation for يُعانِي v
  • Portuguese: sofrerPronunciation for sofrer v
  • Russian: страдатьPronunciation for страдать v
  • Croatian: patitiPronunciation for patiti v
  • Czech: vytrpětPronunciation for vytrpět v trpět
  • Danish: lidePronunciation for lide v
  • Dutch: lijdenPronunciation for lijden v
  • Finnish: kärsiäPronunciation for kärsiä v
  • Greek: υποφέρωPronunciation for υποφέρω v
  • Italian: soffrirePronunciation for soffrire v
  • Japanese: 被るPronunciation for 被る v
  • Korean: 괴로워하다Pronunciation for 괴로워하다 v
  • Norwegian: lidePronunciation for lide v
  • Polish: znieśćPronunciation for znieść v znosić
  • Brazilian Portuguese: sofrerPronunciation for sofrer v
  • European Spanish: sufrir Pronunciation for sufrir v
  • Swedish: lida avPronunciation for lida av v
  • Thai: ทนทุกข์ทรมาณPronunciation for ทนทุกข์ทรมาณ v
  • Turkish: acı çekmekPronunciation for acı çekmek v
  • Vietnamese: chịu đựngPronunciation for chịu đựng v

Usage examples

  • Most Muscovites would sooner suffer than be treated by a Chechen.
    Mark Burnell, CHAMELEON (2002)
  • But it is not yet clear how the approach could be turned into a practical treatment for the millions who suffer heart attacks.
    New Scientist (2003)
  • Immediate actions are presented for what to do if you suffer a sudden back pain.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • Stories like this suggest a steely integrity to Roeves, born of hard knocks and an unwillingness to suffer fools on and off stage.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Death is inevitable, and even the most secure of us can suffer sickness and disability.
    Dorothy Rowe, BEYOND FEAR (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'S'

Related Terms

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