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Definition of tolerate verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

tolerate

verb
 
/ˈtɒləreɪt/
 
/ˈtɑːləreɪt/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they tolerate
 
/ˈtɒləreɪt/
 
/ˈtɑːləreɪt/
he / she / it tolerates
 
/ˈtɒləreɪts/
 
/ˈtɑːləreɪts/
past simple tolerated
 
/ˈtɒləreɪtɪd/
 
/ˈtɑːləreɪtɪd/
past participle tolerated
 
/ˈtɒləreɪtɪd/
 
/ˈtɑːləreɪtɪd/
-ing form tolerating
 
/ˈtɒləreɪtɪŋ/
 
/ˈtɑːləreɪtɪŋ/
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  1. to allow somebody to do something that you do not agree with or like synonym put up with somebody/something
    • tolerate something Their relationship was tolerated but not encouraged.
    • This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.
    • tolerate (somebody/something) doing/being/having something She refused to tolerate being called a liar.
    Extra Examples
    • I will not tolerate this conduct!
    • It is technically illegal but widely tolerated.
    • She actually seemed pleased to see him: most of her visitors she merely tolerated.
    • The condition makes it difficult to tolerate bright light.
    • The government is not prepared to tolerate this situation any longer.
    • This plant prefers alkaline soil, though it will readily tolerate some acidity.
    • This plant will readily tolerate some acidity.
    • Union activity was officially tolerated but strongly discouraged.
    • I don't know how you tolerate that noise!
    • Most perennials will tolerate being transplanted.
    • Young and elderly people cannot tolerate alcohol as well as other adults.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • barely
    • just
    • merely
    verb + tolerate
    • be unable to
    • cannot
    • not be prepared to
    See full entry
  2. tolerate somebody/something to accept somebody/something that is annoying, unpleasant, etc. without complaining synonym put up with somebody/something
    • There is a limit to what one person can tolerate.
    • I don't know how you tolerate that noise!
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • barely
    • just
    • merely
    verb + tolerate
    • be unable to
    • cannot
    • not be prepared to
    See full entry
  3. tolerate something to be able to be affected by a drug, difficult conditions, etc. without being harmed
    • She tolerated the chemotherapy well.
    • Few plants will tolerate sudden changes in temperature.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • readily
    • well
    • poorly
    verb + tolerate
    • be unable to
    • cannot
    • will not
    See full entry
  4. Word Originearly 16th cent. (in the sense ‘endure pain’): from Latin tolerat- ‘endured’, from the verb tolerare.
See tolerate in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee tolerate in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
generic
adjective
 
 
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