Definition of suffer
1a : to submit to or be forced to endure suffer martyrdomb : to feel keenly : labor under suffer thirst
3 : to put up with especially as inevitable or unavoidable
4 : to allow especially by reason of indifference the eagle suffers little birds to sing — William Shakespeare
1 : to endure death, pain, or distress
2 : to sustain loss or damage
3 : to be subject to disability or handicap
sufferableplay \ˈsə-f(ə-)rə-bəl\ adjective
sufferablyplay \-blē\ adverb
suffererplay \ˈsə-fər-ər\ noun
Examples of suffer in a sentence
He died instantly and did not suffer.
He suffered a heart attack and died instantly.
She suffered an injury during the game.
We suffered a great deal during the war.
I hate to see a child suffer.
She suffered through another one of their long visits.
The team suffered a defeat in the play-offs.
Their relationship suffered because of her work.
Synonym Discussion of suffer
SUFFER Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of suffer for English Language Learners
: to experience pain, illness, or injury
: to experience something unpleasant (such as defeat, loss, or damage)
: to become worse because of being badly affected by something
SUFFER Defined for Kids
Definition of suffer for Students
1 : to feel or endure pain, illness, or injury She suffers from arthritis.
2 : to experience something unpleasant Wilbur was merely suffering the doubts and fears that often go with finding a new friend. — E. B. White, Charlotte's Web
3 : to bear loss or damage Business suffered during the storm.
4 : to become worse His grades are suffering.
5 : 1permit 1 “I have done what man could. Suffer me to go.” — Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee
Seen and Heard
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