suffer

verb

SUF-ur/ˈsʌfɚ/UKSUF-uh/ˈsʌfə/

Formssuffers, suffering, suffered

5 meanings of suffer

1
verbintransitive
To feel pain in your body or your mind.
Like when a bad burn keeps hurting long after you touch the hot stove.
Many patients suffer when their medication wears off.
She suffered quietly through the long, painful night.
Similaragonize
Note
2
verbintransitive
To go through a hard or painful time.
Like having to keep going through a long, cold winter that never seems to end.
Families suffer when a factory closes and the jobs disappear.
The town suffered badly during the long drought.
Similarbear
Oppositethrive, prosper, flourish
Note
3
verbtransitive
To go through something hard or unpleasant and put up with it.
Like carrying a heavy bag on a long walk without ever putting it down.
He suffered many setbacks before he finally succeeded.
We must suffer some pain before the wound can heal.
Similarendure, tolerate, bear, stand, take
Note
4
verbintransitive
To get worse in quality or condition.
Like a plant that wilts when no one remembers to water it.
Her grades suffer when she stays up too late.
Sales suffered after the store moved to a worse street.
Similarworsen, decline, deteriorate, degenerate, fade
Oppositeimprove, thrive, flourish
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Less common meaning

5
verbarchaictransitive
To allow or let something happen.
The king would not suffer anyone to enter his hall.
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to liue.
1611, The Holy Bible, King James VersionHere, suffer means allow.
Similarpermit
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Practice

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Origin

From Latin sufferre "to bear or endure," made from sub- "up, under" and ferō "I carry." It came into English through French.