Word family noun sufferer suffering sufferance adjective insufferable verb suffer adverb insufferably
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsuffersuf‧fer /ˈsʌfə $ -ər/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 1 pain [intransitive, transitive]SUFFER to experience physical or mental pain At least he died suddenly and didn’t suffer. She’s suffering a lot of pain.2 disease/medical condition [intransitive] to have a particular disease or medical condition, especially for a long timesuffer from Craig suffers from a rare bone disease. The writer suffered from ill health for most of his life.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say that someone has a medical condition, rather than suffers from it:Both her children have asthma.3 bad experience/situation [intransitive, transitive]LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR WAR if someone suffers an unpleasant or difficult experience, or is in a difficult situation, it happens to them or they experience itsuffer from London employers were suffering from a desperate shortage of school-leavers. Most of us have suffered the consequences of stupid decisions taken by others. In June 1667, England suffered a humiliating defeat by the Dutch.suffer loss/damage/injury They are unlikely to suffer any further loss of business. He suffered head injuries in the crash. A man who suffered serious brain damage during an operation is suing the hospital. Small businesses have suffered financially during the recession.4 become worse [intransitive]WORSE to become worse in quality because a bad situation is affecting something or because nobody is taking care of it OPP benefit Safety might suffer if costs are cut. I’m worried and my work is beginning to suffer.5 → not suffer fools gladlyGrammar• You suffer from an illness, disease, or condition: He is suffering from pneumonia.She suffers from anxiety. ✗Don’t say: He is suffering pneumonia. | She suffers anxiety.• You suffer injury, loss, damage, or pain: He suffered terrible injuries.COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: to have a particular disease or medical condition, especially for a long timenounssuffer an injuryTen people suffered minor injuries.suffer a heart attack/strokeHe died after suffering a massive heart attack.suffer damageThe U.S. ship suffered no damage.suffer a defeatThe team has now suffered five successive defeats.suffer a setbackHer preparations for the Olympic Games suffered a setback when she injured her leg during training.suffer a blow (=experience a situation or event that causes difficulty or sadness)The government suffered another blow when a report claimed that standards in education were falling.suffer a lossBoth companies have suffered heavy financial losses.suffer a problemResearch shows that children of alcoholic parents are more likely to suffer problems in adulthood.suffer the consequencesIf they cannot learn to adapt, they will suffer the consequences.adverbssuffer badly/greatlyThe town had suffered badly in the war.suffer financiallyThe museum suffered financially under his administration. → See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
suffer• When his mother caught him cheating she really made him suffer.• I would hate to see the animals suffer.• Borders, 47, who was in fair condition, suffered a concussion and swelling to the right arm and left eye.• Anne still suffers a lot of pain in her leg.• February gasoline suffered a sharper decline, down 1. 83 cents at 58. 65 cents a gallon.• Bad weather took more of a toll in our community and Derek Brown's family suffered a tragedy during one bad winter.• My grades suffered as a result of having to work more hours.• His school work suffered because he was continually worried about his mother.• Small businesses have suffered financially during the recession.• I shouldn't have drunk all that wine - I'll suffer for it tomorrow morning.• All over the world, people are suffering for their political or religious beliefs.• Capitalists are smart enough not to suffer from money illusion.• Two hundred million people worldwide suffer from parasitic diseases.• Special considerations: there was no indication that the appellant was suffering from psychiatric disorder.• Schizophrenia was not a word I tossed around about Clarisa, though I knew that was what she suffered from.• The ferry line denied that safety would suffer if costs were cut.• If you tell lies, it is you who will suffer in the end.• In all wars, it's innocent civilians who suffer most.• Her husband, a lawyer, suffered professionally for having to leave the office early every night.• Hardesty suffered severe burns to his face and body.• I wanted to make you suffer the way I was suffering.• Children always suffer when their parents get divorced.suffered the consequences• Apple, however, kept a tight grip on its technology and suffered the consequences.• Some are not, and when we have found them, they have suffered the consequences.• They were refused, of course, and suffered the consequences.• But they nevertheless peacefully suffered the consequences of their action - the ejection from their fellowships.Origin suffer (1100-1200) Old French souffrir, from Vulgar Latin sufferire, from Latin sufferre, from sub- ( → SUB-) + ferre “to bear” 