Patience
ˈpeɪʃəns
Definitions
2 meaningsThe ability to wait calmly for something or to endure difficulty or suffering without complaining.
ˈpeɪʃəns
The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, suffering, or annoyance without getting angry or upset.
It takes a lot of patience to learn a new language.
💡 Simply: Patience is like waiting for your turn to play a game or for your food to be ready. It's when you don't get upset while waiting, even if it takes a long time. Think of waiting for a slow download or standing in line for a ride at an amusement park; it requires patience!
👶 For kids: Patience is when you can wait nicely for something, even if it takes a long time. It's like when you wait for your birthday or for your ice cream to be ready!
More Examples
The doctor's patience with his difficult patients was admirable.
I lost my patience after waiting for an hour.
How It's Used
"She showed great patience while waiting for the bus."
"Therapists often encourage patients to cultivate patience as a coping mechanism."
"Raising children requires a lot of patience."
A state of being calm, understanding, and accepting of problems or suffering.
ˈpeɪʃəns
The state or fact of being patient.
The teacher's patience with the students was evident.
💡 Simply: It's the feeling of being calm and understanding, even when things are hard or take a long time. Like when you are learning a new skill, you have to have patience to keep trying!
👶 For kids: Being patient is like being a super-calm superhero! You stay happy and don't get upset when things take a long time or don't go your way.
More Examples
Her patience was rewarded when the project finally succeeded.
It takes great patience to deal with constant interruptions.
How It's Used
"Her patience was tested by the constant delays."
"Patience is a virtue in any relationship."
Idioms & expressions
have patience
To be patient; to wait calmly for something.
"Have patience, the food will be ready soon."
test someone's patience
To make someone feel annoyed or frustrated.
"His constant interruptions were testing my patience."
lose patience
To become annoyed or angry after waiting for too long.
"I lost my patience with the slow service."
try someone's patience
To make someone feel annoyed or irritated.
"The never-ending delays tried her patience."
From Middle English pacience, from Old French pacience, from Latin patientia (“suffering, endurance, patience”), from pati (“to suffer, endure”).
The word has been used in English since the 13th century, initially referring to the ability to endure suffering.
Memory tip
Imagine a person waiting in a long line at the grocery store. They remain calm and composed – that's patience.