enduring trying circumstances with even temper tolerant; understanding capable of accepting delay with equanimity persevering or diligent: a patient worker
a person who is receiving medical care
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pa•tient /ˈpeɪʃənt/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Medicineone under medical care or treatment:The patients in this ward all have cancer.
adj.
- able to control one's feelings in spite of annoyance, misfortune, etc., without complaining.
- continuing to work steadily;
diligent;
steady.
- patient is an adjective and a noun, patiently is an adverb, patience is a noun:Be patient with the baby. That doctor has many patients. That teacher treats his class patiently. Don't lose your patience with the baby.
pa•tient
(pā′shənt),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
pa′tient•less, adj.
pa′tient•ly, adv.
pa′tient•ness, n.
- Medicinea person who is under medical care or treatment.
- a person or thing that undergoes some action.
- Archaic. a sufferer or victim.
adj.
- bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like.
- characterized by or expressing such a quality:a patient smile.
- quietly and steadily persevering or diligent, esp. in detail or exactness:a patient worker.
- undergoing the action of another (opposed to agent ).
- Idioms patient of:
- Idiomshaving or showing the capacity for endurance:a man patient of distractions.
- Idiomssusceptible of:This statement is patient of criticism.
- Latin patient- (stem of patiēns), present participle of patī to undergo, suffer, bear; see -ent
- Middle French
- Middle English pacient (adjective, adjectival and noun, nominal) 1275–1325
pa′tient•ly, adv.
pa′tient•ness, n.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged invalid.
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged uncomplaining, long-suffering, forbearing, resigned, passive, calm.
- 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged quiet, serene, unruffled, unexcited, self-possessed, composed.
- 6.See corresponding entry in Unabridged sedulous, assiduous, untiring.
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged hostile.
- 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged impatient, agitated.
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