tolerate
verb
tol·er·ate ˈtä-lə-ˌrāt 
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
ˈtä-lə-ˌrā-tiv
adjective tolerator
ˈtä-lə-ˌrā-tər
noun 
Synonyms
- allow
- let
- permit
- suffer
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Similar to the Kinetic Sand, this toy provides sensory exploration to expand a child's ability to tolerate and manipulate different tactile experiences while learning how to develop fine motor skills. 
Jamie Spain, Good Housekeeping, 19 Sep. 2022 Hannah Gadsby is right: punch lines need tension, which means that comics must often find ways not just to tolerate tension but to generate it. Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2022 In the late 80s, researchers explored the depths of Crater Lake with a one-man submarine, discovering worms, insects, and crustaceans that have evolved to tolerate the extreme pressure 2,000 feet below the surface. Ashley Stimpson, Popular Mechanics, 16 Sep. 2022 The macro story does explore the relationship of Gilead to the larger world, and uncomfortable questions about what its neighbors will tolerate in the pragmatic pursuit of political accommodation. Brian Lowry, CNN, 14 Sep. 2022 Randal is as motormouthed as ever, barely managing to tolerate younger protégé Elias (Trevor Fehrman). Andrew Barker, Variety, 8 Sep. 2022 The student is encouraged to tolerate these bottlenecks by embracing the school’s brand and overlooking its failings. Allen C. Guelzo And Scott L. Wyatt, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 Gardeners who don’t mind the challenge of growing zinnias during the summer have to either tolerate the leaf spotting or apply a fungicide. Tom Maccubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Sep. 2022 This may allow humans and other mammals to tolerate meiotic drive over evolutionary time. Kathryn Kavanagh, The Conversation, 1 Sep. 2022 See More
Jamie Spain, Good Housekeeping, 19 Sep. 2022 Hannah Gadsby is right: punch lines need tension, which means that comics must often find ways not just to tolerate tension but to generate it. Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2022 In the late 80s, researchers explored the depths of Crater Lake with a one-man submarine, discovering worms, insects, and crustaceans that have evolved to tolerate the extreme pressure 2,000 feet below the surface. Ashley Stimpson, Popular Mechanics, 16 Sep. 2022 The macro story does explore the relationship of Gilead to the larger world, and uncomfortable questions about what its neighbors will tolerate in the pragmatic pursuit of political accommodation. Brian Lowry, CNN, 14 Sep. 2022 Randal is as motormouthed as ever, barely managing to tolerate younger protégé Elias (Trevor Fehrman). Andrew Barker, Variety, 8 Sep. 2022 The student is encouraged to tolerate these bottlenecks by embracing the school’s brand and overlooking its failings. Allen C. Guelzo And Scott L. Wyatt, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 Gardeners who don’t mind the challenge of growing zinnias during the summer have to either tolerate the leaf spotting or apply a fungicide. Tom Maccubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 3 Sep. 2022 This may allow humans and other mammals to tolerate meiotic drive over evolutionary time. Kathryn Kavanagh, The Conversation, 1 Sep. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
tolerate
verb
tol·er·ate ˈtä-lə-ˌrāt
tolerated; tolerating
1
: to allow something to be or to be done without making a move to stop it Our teacher will tolerate a certain amount of giggling.
2
: to stand the action of
These plants tolerate drought well.
Medical Definition
tolerate
transitive verb
tol·er·ate ˈtäl-ə-ˌrāt
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 well H. R. Litchfield & L. H. Dembo
H. R. Litchfield & L. H. Dembotolerations
noun
as in tolerances
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- tolerances
- agreements
- acquiescences
- permits
- acceptances
- concessions
- patents
- grants
- liberties
- assents
- sanctions
- passes
- green lights
- allowances
- seals
- sufferances
- certifications
- okays
- signatures
- accreditations
- clearances
- permissions
- OKs
- concurrences
- consents
- stamps
- warrants
- imprimaturs
- authorizations
- licenses
- licences
- accords
- leaves
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- prohibitions
- proscriptions
- rejections
- refusals
- taboos
- revocations
- denials
- interdictions
- injunctions
- suppressions
- repressions
- exclusions
- discouragements
- vetoes
- tabus
- bans
- embargoes
- deterrences