tolerate

UK: /ˈtɒləreɪt/ US: /ˈtɑləˌreɪt/ ,(tol′ə rāt′)

Inflections of 'tolerate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

tolerates

v 3rd person singular

tolerating

v pres p

tolerated

v past

tolerated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

tol•er•ate /ˈtɑləˌreɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to allow (something that one does not like) to exist without prohibiting it or preventing it.
2. to endure; put up with:
   I cannot tolerate incompetence.

tol•er•a•tion /ˌtɑləˈreɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

tol•er•ate  (tol′ə rāt′), v.t., -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to allow the existence, presence, practice, or act of without prohibition or hindrance;
   permit.
2. to endure without repugnance;
   put up with:
   I can tolerate laziness, but not incompetence.
3. [Med.] to endure or resist the action of (a drug, poison, etc.).
4. [Obs.] to experience, undergo, or sustain, as pain or hardship.

• Latin tolerātus, past participle of tolerāre to bear (akin to thole²); see -ate¹
• 1525–35

tol ′er•a′tive, adj. 
tol ′er•a′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. support, accept.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

tolerate / ˈtɒləˌreɪt/ verb (transitive)

1. to treat with indulgence, liberality, or forbearance
2. to permit
3. to be able to bear; put up with
4. to have tolerance for (a drug, poison, etc)

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin tolerāre sustain; related to thole²