tolerate
verb
tol·er·ate
ˈtä-lə-ˌrāt 
tolerated; tolerating
1
a
: to allow to be or to be done without prohibition, hindrance, or contradiction
b
: to put up with
learn to tolerate one another
2
: to endure or resist the action of (something, such as a drug or food) without serious side effects or discomfort : exhibit physiological tolerance for
Examples of tolerate in a Sentence
Our teacher will not tolerate bad grammar.
Racist or sexist behavior will not be tolerated.
I can't tolerate that noise.
The government cannot tolerate lawlessness.
How can you tolerate such laziness?
These plants tolerate drought well.
I don't like my boss, but I tolerate him.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Satanic Temple has challenged what religions states will tolerate.
—
Peter Greene, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Growing Conditions: Grows fastest in bright light, but will tolerate low light; water when the top inch or two of soil is dry
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall and 6 to 36 inches wide
Snake plant is toxic to pets1 and young children if eaten.
—Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Nov. 2024
Similar to aluminum foil, these disposable baking dishes can tolerate high temperatures.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2024
Republicans will only be constrained by how much deficit spending the party’s lawmakers and global financial markets can tolerate.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tolerate 
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Peter Greene, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Growing Conditions: Grows fastest in bright light, but will tolerate low light; water when the top inch or two of soil is dry
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall and 6 to 36 inches wide
Snake plant is toxic to pets1 and young children if eaten.
—Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Nov. 2024
Similar to aluminum foil, these disposable baking dishes can tolerate high temperatures.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2024
Republicans will only be constrained by how much deficit spending the party’s lawmakers and global financial markets can tolerate.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tolerate
Dictionary Entries Near tolerate
Cite this Entry
“Tolerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tolerate. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tolerate
verb
tol·er·ate
ˈtäl-ə-ˌrāt
tolerated; tolerating
1
: to allow something to be or be done without making a move to stop it : put up with
refused to tolerate such treatment
2
: to withstand the action of
plants that tolerate drought
tolerate a drug
toleration
noun
ˌtäl-ə-ˈrā-shən
Medical Definition
tolerate
transitive verb
tol·er·ate
ˈtäl-ə-ˌrāt
tolerated; tolerating
: to endure or resist the action of (as a drug or food) without serious side effects or discomfort : exhibit physiological tolerance for
a premature baby … does not tolerate fats very well—H. R. Litchfield & L. H. Dembo
H. R. Litchfield & L. H. DemboLove words? Need even more definitions?
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