suffer
verb /ˈsʌfə(r)/
/ˈsʌfər/
Verb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they suffer | /ˈsʌfə(r)/ /ˈsʌfər/ |
| he / she / it suffers | /ˈsʌfəz/ /ˈsʌfərz/ |
| past simple suffered | /ˈsʌfəd/ /ˈsʌfərd/ |
| past participle suffered | /ˈsʌfəd/ /ˈsʌfərd/ |
| -ing form suffering | /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/ /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive] to be badly affected by a disease, pain, sad feelings, a lack of something, etc.
- I hate to see animals suffering.
- The country has suffered greatly at the hands of its corrupt government.
- suffer from something to suffer from a disorder/a disease/an illness/a condition
- patients suffering from depression/cancer
- Increasing numbers of children are suffering from mental health problems.
- He suffers from asthma.
- The economy is still suffering badly from a lack of demand.
- suffer with something to suffer with depression/a cold
- suffer for something He made a rash decision and now he is suffering for it.
- The lead actor had to suffer for his art by losing 10kg for the role.
- Women continue to suffer in silence under the repressive regime.
Extra ExamplesTopics Illnessb1- Many companies are suffering from a shortage of skilled staff.
- road accident victims suffering from shock
- I'm sorry that you have to suffer alone like this.
- They were just expected to suffer in silence.
- This area suffered very badly in the storms.
- Thousands of children in the world today suffer needlessly.
- people suffering under repressive regimes
- Premature babies are more likely to suffer from breathing difficulties in childhood.
- I played tennis yesterday and I know I shall suffer for it today.
- No child deserves to suffer for a parent's mistakes.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- a lot
- badly
- enormously
- …
- be likely to
- tend to
- continue to
- …
- for
- from
- under
- …
- suffer in silence
- [transitive] suffer something to experience something unpleasant, such as injury, defeat or loss
- to suffer a stroke/heart attack
- Victims suffered severe injuries in the accident.
- The company suffered huge losses in the last financial year.
- Crops suffered serious damage as a result of the floods.
- The party suffered a humiliating defeat in the general election.
- His mother died young, and his sister suffered the same fate (= his sister also died young).
Extra Examples- He suffered a massive heart attack.
- She made mistakes as a teenager and spent her whole life suffering the consequences.
- The tourism industry suffered a setback last year due to poor summer weather.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- a lot
- badly
- enormously
- …
- be likely to
- tend to
- continue to
- …
- for
- from
- under
- …
- suffer in silence
- [intransitive] to become worse
- His school work is suffering because of family problems.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Anglo-Norman French suffrir, from Latin sufferre, from sub- ‘from below’ + ferre ‘to bear’.
Idioms
not suffer fools gladly
- to be very impatient with people that you think are stupid
- She was a forceful personality who didn't suffer fools gladly.