suffer
3 ENTRIES FOUND:
suffers;
suffered;
suffering
suffers;
suffered;
suffering
Britannica Dictionary definition of SUFFER
1
:
to experience pain, illness, or injury
— often + from
[no object]
-
Before the surgery it was clear that she was really suffering. [=was in pain]
-
He died instantly and did not suffer.
-
She suffers from arthritis.
-
This patient is clearly suffering from shock.
[+ object]
-
He suffered a heart attack and died instantly.
-
She suffered an injury during the game.
2
:
to experience something unpleasant (such as defeat, loss, or damage)
[no object]
-
We suffered a great deal during the war.
-
I hate to see a child suffer.
-
She suffered through another one of their long visits.
[+ object]
-
The team suffered a defeat in the play-offs.
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He broke the law, so he has to suffer the consequences. [=he has to be punished for what he has done]
3
[no object]
:
to become worse because of being badly affected by something
-
Their relationship suffered because of her work.
-
He was working so hard that his health began to suffer. [=he began to have health problems]
-
His parents told him he could play football as long as his grades didn't suffer (as a result).
suffer fools gladly
:
to be kind to and patient with people who annoy or bother you
— usually used in negative statements
-
My mother was a woman who did not suffer fools gladly.
