Definition

1. Verb:
   • To allow something to exist or happen without interference: To permit an activity, behavior, or presence, especially when one disagrees with it or finds it unpleasant, without taking action to stop it.
   • To withstand or endure something physically or mentally: To have the capacity to experience exposure to something (like a substance, condition, or person) without being adversely affected or showing a negative reaction.
   • To accept or respect differences: To acknowledge and allow the existence of opinions, beliefs, or practices that differ from one's own.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • The school does not tolerate bullying. (The school does not allow bullying to happen without opposition.)
  • Some plants can tolerate drought better than others. (Some plants can endure or survive dry conditions.)
  • A democratic society must tolerate a wide range of viewpoints. (A democratic society must accept and respect many different opinions.)

Advanced Usage

• "To tolerate no...": Used to express a complete lack of acceptance or patience for something.
  • The captain tolerates no dissent on his ship. (The captain absolutely does not allow any disagreement.)
• In a medical/biological context: Refers to an organism's ability to withstand a drug, treatment, or environmental factor.
  • Over time, the insect population developed a tolerance and could tolerate the pesticide. (The insects became able to survive exposure to the pesticide.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tolerance (n): The ability or willingness to tolerate something.
  • She has a low tolerance for spicy food. (She cannot endure very spicy food well.)
• Tolerant (adj): Showing willingness to allow the existence of opinions or behavior one does not necessarily agree with.
  • He is very tolerant of other people's mistakes.
• Intolerable (adj): Unable to be endured.
  • The pain was intolerable.

Synonyms

• Endure: To suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently.
• Bear: To tolerate or endure something.
• Allow: To permit something to happen.
• Accept: To receive or take something offered; to regard something as proper or valid.
• Withstand: To remain undamaged or unaffected by; to resist.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Tolerate" itself does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically expressed through the single verb or synonyms.)

Related Idioms

• "To have a low/high tolerance for...": An idiom describing one's level of patience or endurance for something specific.
  • I have a very low tolerance for loud noises. (I become annoyed or unable to endure loud noises very quickly.)
• "Zero tolerance": A policy or attitude of not tolerating undesirable behavior at all.
  • The company has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment. (The company does not allow any harassment whatsoever.)

Verb

1. allow the presence of or allow (an activity) without opposing or prohibiting
   • We don't allow dogs here
   • Children are not permitted beyond this point
   • We cannot tolerate smoking in the hospital
2. have a tolerance for a poison or strong drug or pathogen or environmental condition
   • The patient does not tolerate the anti-inflammatory drugs we gave him
3. recognize and respect (rights and beliefs of others)
   • We must tolerate the religions of others
4. put up with something or somebody unpleasant
   • I cannot bear his constant criticism
   • The new secretary had to endure a lot of unprofessional remarks
   • he learned to tolerate the heat
   • She stuck out two years in a miserable marriage