ENGLISH
REFERENCE

tolerate

v.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈtɑɫɝˌeɪt// UK //tˈɒləɹˌeɪt// tol·er·ate

v. to accept something that is difficult or annoying without complaining about it. You use this when you don't necessarily like a situation but you allow it to continue anyway.

v. to allow the existence, occurrence, or practice of something that one dislikes or disagrees with without interference. Often implies a position of endurance or passive acceptance rather than approval.


SIMPLE

I cannot tolerate that loud music while I am trying to work.

CONTEXTUAL

The local government refused to tolerate any further delays in the construction of the new hospital wing.

COMPLEX

While the ecosystem can tolerate minor fluctuations in temperature, the rapid shifts caused by industrial runoff have led to a significant decline in native fish populations.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Latin tolerātus, the perfect passive participle of tolerō (“to endure”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with Old English þolian (“to tolerate, suffer, bear”) and French tolérer. More at thole.

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.

Pitfall

I cannot tolerate to his behaviorI cannot tolerate his behaviorTolerate is a transitive verb and takes a direct object; it should not be followed by a preposition like 'to'.

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