# tolerated

/ˈtɑɫɝˌeɪtɪd/ (US) · /tˈɒləɹˌeɪtɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tolerated
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to allow or endure

verb · CEFR B1

to have allowed something to happen even if you did not like it, or to have put up with something painful.

For teachers: the past tense of 'tolerate', meaning to have permitted something without interference or to have endured a difficult condition.

- The teacher tolerated the noise for a few minutes before asking for silence.
- The local government tolerated the informal market for years, recognizing its importance to the community despite the lack of official permits.

### 2. permitted or endured

adjective · CEFR B2

describing something that is allowed to exist, even if people do not agree with it.

For teachers: describing a state of being permitted or endured, often implying a lack of active approval or a passive acceptance of a nuisance.

- Smoking was a tolerated habit in the office until the new laws were passed.
- The presence of stray cats became a tolerated nuisance among the residents, who eventually began providing them with food and shelter.

### 3. medical/biological

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to have been able to take a medicine or food without getting sick.

For teachers: to have exhibited the capacity to endure the effects of a drug, physiological condition, or environmental factor without adverse reactions.

- The patient tolerated the new medication well and showed no side effects.
- The clinical trial results indicated that the high-dosage regimen was well tolerated by the majority of participants over the six-month period.

## Examples

- She remained tolerated during the long delay.
- The team was tolerated by management despite missing the initial deadline.
- His unconventional methods were tolerated by the board only because they consistently delivered strong financial results.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.