Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense suffers, present participle suffering, past tense, past participle suffered
1. verb
If you suffer pain, you feel it in your body or in your mind.
Within a few days she had become seriously ill, suffering great pain and discomfort. [VERB noun]
Can you assure me that my father is not suffering? [VERB]
Synonyms: be in pain, hurt, ache, be racked More Synonyms of suffer
2. verb
If you suffer from an illness or from some other bad condition, you are badly affected by it.
He was eventually diagnosed as suffering from terminal cancer. [VERB + from]
I realized he was suffering from shock. [VERB + from]
Synonyms: be affected, have trouble with, be afflicted, be troubled with More Synonyms of suffer
3. verb
If you suffer something bad, you are in a situation in which something painful, harmful, or very unpleasant happens to you.
The peace process has suffered a serious blow now. [VERB noun]
Romania suffered another setback in its efforts to obtain financial support for itsreforms. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: undergo, experience, sustain, feel More Synonyms of suffer
4. verb
If you suffer, you are badly affected by an event or situation.
There are few who have not suffered. [VERB]
It is obvious that poor people will suffer most from this change of heart. [VERB + from]
5. verb
If something suffers, it does not succeed because it has not been given enough attention or is in a bad situation.
I'm not surprised that your studies are suffering. [VERB]
Without a major boost in tourism, the economy will suffer even further. [VERB]
Synonyms: deteriorate, decline, get worse, fall off More Synonyms of suffer
6. See also suffering
7.
See doesn't suffer fools gladly
More Synonyms of suffer
suffer in British English
(ˈsʌfə)
verb
1.
to undergo or be subjected to (pain, punishment, etc)
2. (transitive)
to undergo or experience (anything)
to suffer a change of management
3. (intransitive)
to be set at a disadvantage
this author suffers in translation
4.
to be prepared to endure (pain, death, etc)
she suffers for the cause of freedom
5. (transitive) archaic
to permit (someone to do something)
suffer the little children to come unto me
6. suffer from
▶ USAGE It is better to avoid using the words suffer and sufferer in relation to chronic illness or disability. They may be considered demeaning anddisempowering. Suitable alternative are have, experience, be diagnosed with
Derived forms
sufferer (ˈsufferer)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French soffrir, from Latin sufferre, from sub- + ferre to bear
suffer in American English
(ˈsʌfər)
verb transitive
1.
to undergo (something painful or unpleasant, as injury, grief, a loss, etc.); be afflicted with
2.
to undergo or experience (any process, esp. change)
3.
to allow; permit; tolerate
4.
to bear up under; endure
now chiefly in negative constructions
they could not suffer opposition
verb intransitive
5.
to experience pain, harm, loss, a penalty, etc.
6.
to be at a disadvantage
my grades suffer by comparison with yours
7. Archaic
to tolerate or endure evil, injury, etc.
SIMILAR WORDS: bear, let
Derived forms
sufferer (ˈsufferer)
noun
Word origin
ME suffren < Anglo-Fr suffrir < OFr sofrir < VL *sufferire, for L sufferre, to undergo, endure < sub-, sub- + ferre, to bear1
Examples of 'suffer' in a sentence
suffer
Not suited by easy ground and likely to suffer more rain pain.
The Sun (2016)
In that year he was found to be suffering from brain cancer.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Reading could also be staring down the barrel of financial ruin if they suffer another relegation.
The Sun (2010)
The claimant had suffered loss caused by the wrongdoing of the defendants.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The former barrister suffers badly from nerves.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Long-term solutions will come as no comfort to those suffering pain in the short term.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He had been suffering latterly with cancer.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He had witnessed harrowing scenes after the tsunami that had caused him to suffer from flashbacks.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The church is in a great position to reach out to women who suffer so badly.
Christianity Today (2000)
He was suffering huge pain from two crushed vertebrae in the back.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He had been suffering from cancer and is survived by two daughters.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
As long as some measurable damage had been suffered the cause of action would accrue.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He also suffered continual back pain from an injury in his youth.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
My work began to suffer badly as the ritual became more complex.
The Sun (2009)
For years your elderly mother has been suffering pain in her back and hips after gardening.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But he claims he used them only to numb the pain caused by injuries suffered while performing and at home.
The Sun (2009)
Both her parents have already suffered from cancer and friends have launched an appeal to raise cash for massive medical bills.
The Sun (2015)
She said that touch reduces pain, which is why people rub the skin after suffering a blow.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And it was love that had made her so, the love of another who suffered for her.
Crowley, Vivianne Phoenix From the Flame (1994)
The troubled career of Well Chief has suffered yet another setback.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Another region suffering the after-effects of a tropical storm was Nepal.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The business suffered a blow, though, when heath inspectors gave it a hammering citing a series of hygiene issues.
The Sun (2012)
In other languages
suffer
British English: suffer /ˈsʌfə/ VERB
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.
American English: suffer
Arabic: يُعانِي
Brazilian Portuguese: sofrer
Chinese: 遭受
Croatian: patiti
Czech: trpět
Danish: lide
Dutch: lijden
European Spanish: sufrir
Finnish: kärsiä
French: souffrir
German: leiden
Greek: υποφέρω
Italian: soffrire
Japanese: 被る
Korean: 괴로워하다
Norwegian: lide
Polish: znieść
European Portuguese: sofrer
Romanian: a suferi
Russian: страдать
Latin American Spanish: sufrir
Swedish: lida av
Thai: ทนทุกข์ทรมาน
Turkish: acı çekmek
Ukrainian: страждати
Vietnamese: chịu đựng
All related terms of 'suffer'
suffer from
to be ill with, esp recurrently
suffer hardship
Hardship is a situation in which your life is difficult or unpleasant, often because you do not have enough money.
suffer ignominy
Ignominy is shame or public disgrace .
suffer a loss
If a business makes a loss , it earns less than it spends.
suffer humiliation
Humiliation is the embarrassment and shame you feel when someone makes you appear stupid , or when you make a mistake in public.
suffer a failure
If there is a failure of something, for example a machine or part of the body, it goes wrong and stops working or developing properly.
suffer an accident
An accident happens when a vehicle hits a person, an object, or another vehicle, causing injury or damage.
suffer an illness
Illness is the fact or experience of being ill .
suffer a reaction
If you have a reaction to a substance such as a drug, or to something you have touched , you are affected unpleasantly or made ill by it.
suffer discrimination
Discrimination is the practice of treating one person or group of people less fairly or less well than other people or groups.
suffer the effects of
The effect of one thing on another is the change that the first thing causes in the second thing.
doesn't suffer fools gladly to suffer fools gladly
If you do not suffer fools gladly , you are not patient with people who you think are stupid.
Chinese translation of 'suffer'
suffer
(ˈsʌfəʳ)
vt
[blow, setback]遭受 (zāoshòu)
[pain, illness]承受 (chéngshòu)
vi
(due to pain, illness, poverty)[activity]受损(損)失 (shòu sǔnshī)
(= be badly affected)[person]受苦难(難) (shòu kǔnàn)
to suffer from shock/diarrhoea受惊(驚)吓(嚇)/患腹泻(瀉) (shòu jīngxià/huàn fùxiè)
1 (verb)
Definition
to undergo or be subjected to (physical pain or mental distress)
Can you assure me that my father is not suffering?
Synonyms
be in pain
hurt
His collar bone only hurt when he lifted his arm.
ache
It must have been hard to keep smiling when his heart was aching.
be racked
have a bad time
go through a lot (informal)
go through the mill (informal)
feel wretched
2 (verb)
I realized he was suffering from shock.
Synonyms
be affected
have trouble with
be afflicted
be troubled with
3 (verb)
Definition
to undergo or be subjected to (physical pain or mental distress)
The peace process has suffered a serious blow now.
Synonyms
undergo
New recruits have been undergoing training in recent weeks.
experience
couples who have experienced the trauma of divorce
sustain
Every aircraft in there has sustained some damage.
feel
He was still feeling pain from a stomach injury.
bear
She bore her sufferings bravely.
go through
endure
He'd endured years of pain and sleepless nights because of arthritis.
4 (verb)
Definition
to become worse in quality
I'm not surprised that your studies are suffering.
Synonyms
deteriorate
There are fears that the situation may deteriorate.
decline
Her father's health has declined significantly in recent months.
get worse
fall off
Unemployment is rising again and retail buying has fallen off.
be impaired
5 (verb)
Definition
to tolerate
She doesn't suffer fools gladly and, in her view, most people are fools.
Synonyms
tolerate
She can no longer tolerate the position that she's in.
stand
He hates vegetables and can't stand curry.
put up with (informal)
support
bear
He can't bear to talk about it, even to me.
endure
I simply can't endure another moment of her company.
brook
The army will brook no weakening of its power.
hack (British, informal)
I can't hack all the violence
abide
I can't abide people who can't make up their minds.
6 (verb)
Definition
to be set at a disadvantage
This author's work suffers in translation.
Synonyms
be shown to disadvantage
be handicapped
appear in a poor light
7 (verb)
(archaic)
Synonyms
allow
Talking amongst yourselves is not allowed.
let
Mum didn't let us have sweets very often.
permit
I was permitted to bring my camera into the concert.
Our constitution does not permit the sending of troops.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abide
Definition
to tolerate
I can't abide people who can't make up their minds.
Synonyms
tolerate,
suffer,
accept,
bear,
endure,
brook,
hack (slang),
put up with,
submit to,
take,
stand,
stomach,
thole (Scottish)
in the sense of ache
Definition
to suffer mental anguish
It must have been hard to keep smiling when his heart was aching.
Synonyms
suffer,
hurt,
grieve,
sorrow,
agonize,
be in pain,
eat your heart out,
go through the mill (informal),
mourn,
feel wretched
in the sense of bear
Definition
to tolerate or endure
She bore her sufferings bravely.
Synonyms
suffer,
feel,
experience,
go through,
sustain,
stomach,
endure,
undergo,
admit,
brook,
hack (slang),
abide,
put up with (informal)
Synonyms of 'suffer'
suffer
Explore 'suffer' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bear
Definition
to tolerate or endure
He can't bear to talk about it, even to me.
Synonyms
bring yourself to,
allow,
accept,
permit,
endure,
tolerate,
hack (informal),
abide,
be doing with (informal),
countenance
in the sense of brook
Definition
to bear
The army will brook no weakening of its power.
Synonyms
tolerate,
stand,
allow,
suffer,
accept,
bear,
stomach,
endure,
swallow,
hack (slang),
abide,
put up with (informal),
withstand,
countenance,
support,
thole (dialect)
in the sense of decline
Definition
to become smaller, weaker, or less important
Her father's health has declined significantly in recent months.
Synonyms
deteriorate,
fade,
weaken,
pine,
decay,
worsen,
lapse,
languish,
degenerate,
droop
in the sense of endure
Definition
to bear (hardship) patiently
He'd endured years of pain and sleepless nights because of arthritis.
Synonyms
experience,
suffer,
bear,
weather,
meet,
go through,
encounter,
cope with,
sustain,
brave,
undergo,
withstand,
live through,
thole (Scottish)
in the sense of endure
Definition
to tolerate or put up with
I simply can't endure another moment of her company.
Synonyms
put up with,
stand,
suffer,
bear,
allow,
accept,
stick (slang),
take (informal),
permit,
stomach,
swallow,
brook,
tolerate,
hack (slang),
abide,
submit to,
countenance,
stick out (informal),
take patiently
in the sense of experience
Definition
to be moved by
couples who have experienced the trauma of divorce
Synonyms
undergo,
have,
know,
feel,
try,
meet,
face,
suffer,
taste,
go through,
observe,
sample,
encounter,
sustain,
perceive,
endure,
participate in,
run into,
live through,
behold (archaic, literary),
come up against,
apprehend,
become familiar with
in the sense of fall off
Definition
to decrease in size or intensity
Unemployment is rising again and retail buying has fallen off.
Synonyms
decrease,
drop,
reduce,
decline,
fade,
slump,
weaken,
shrink,
diminish,
dwindle,
lessen,
wane,
subside,
fall away,
peter out,
slacken,
tail off (informal),
ebb away,
go down or downhill
in the sense of feel
Definition
to have a physical or emotional sensation of
He was still feeling pain from a stomach injury.
Synonyms
experience,
suffer,
bear,
go through,
endure,
undergo,
have a sensation of,
have
in the sense of hack
Definition
to tolerate
I can't hack all the violence
Synonyms
stand,
take,
bear,
handle,
cope with,
stomach,
endure,
tolerate,
abide,
put up with (informal)
in the sense of hurt
Definition
to cause someone to feel pain
His collar bone only hurt when he lifted his arm.
Synonyms
ache,
be sore,
be painful,
burn,
smart,
sting,
throb,
be tender
Additional synonyms
in the sense of let
Definition
to allow
Mum didn't let us have sweets very often.
Synonyms
allow,
grant,
permit,
warrant,
authorize,
give the go-ahead,
give permission,
suffer (archaic),
give the green light,
give leave,
greenlight,
give the O.K. or okay (informal)
in the sense of permit
Definition
to allow (someone) to do something
I was permitted to bring my camera into the concert.Our constitution does not permit the sending of troops.
Synonyms
allow,
admit,
grant,
sanction,
let,
suffer,
agree to,
entitle,
endure,
license,
endorse,
warrant,
tolerate,
authorize,
empower,
consent to,
give the green light to,
give leave or permission
in the sense of stand
Definition
to tolerate or bear
He hates vegetables and can't stand curry.
Synonyms
tolerate,
bear,
abide,
suffer,
stomach,
endure,
brook,
hack (slang),
submit to,
thole (dialect)
in the sense of support
Synonyms
tolerate,
stand (for),
suffer,
bear,
stomach,
endure,
undergo,
submit,
brook,
put up with (informal),
countenance,
thole (dialect)
in the sense of sustain
Definition
to suffer (an injury or loss)
Every aircraft in there has sustained some damage.