Word
suffering
Phoneticssuf·fer·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsəfɝɪŋ/
UK/sˈʌfəɹɪŋ/
Definitions
01general pain or distress
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. physical or mental pain that someone feels over a period of time.
n. the state of undergoing physical pain or mental distress. Uncountable when referring to the abstract concept of human misery.
日本語:苦しみ※
“The charity works hard to reduce the suffering of people living in poverty.”
“The philosopher argued that the primary goal of any ethical system should be the systematic reduction of human suffering across all societies.”
02specific instances of hardship
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a specific event or experience that causes someone pain.
n. a particular instance of hardship or a specific cause of distress. Countable in contexts describing multiple distinct trials or afflictions.
日本語:苦難※
“He wrote a book about his many sufferings during the long war.”
“The historical account details the various sufferings endured by the settlers during their first winter in the harsh northern climate.”
Synonyms
03experiencing pain
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. feeling pain or going through a hard time.
adj. characterised by the experience of pain or distress; often used to describe a person or a group in a state of misery.
“The doctor tried to comfort the suffering patient as much as possible.”
“The documentary provided a voice for the suffering populations in regions where basic medical supplies had become entirely unavailable.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “suffering” in context.
Verb
01. alleviate human suffering
“The charity's primary mission is to alleviate human suffering in war-torn regions.”
verb + adj + noun
02. cause immense suffering
“The prolonged drought has caused immense suffering for the local farmers.”
verb + adj + noun
03. endure great suffering
“She showed incredible strength while enduring great suffering during her recovery.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
04. intense suffering
“The patient was given strong medication to manage the intense suffering caused by the injury.”
adj + noun
05. unnecessary suffering
“New regulations were introduced to prevent the unnecessary suffering of animals.”
adj + noun
06. widespread suffering
“The economic collapse led to widespread suffering across the entire country.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. alleviation of suffering
“Doctors dedicated their lives to the alleviation of suffering through medical research.”
noun + of + noun
08. years of suffering
“After years of suffering in silence, he finally decided to seek professional help.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“The 89-year-old - one of Europe's longest-serving monarchs - is suffering from a rare blood condition.” “Azhari puts it more bluntly: “Students in Sudan are suffering.” Etymology
By surface analysis, suffer + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/suffering
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0