suffer
To feel pain in the body or mind.
To undergo physical pain, emotional distress, or hardship.
To have problems because of something bad that happens.
To be negatively affected or harmed by a situation, condition, or event.
To let something bad happen or continue, even if you do not like it. This use is formal and less common today.
To allow, tolerate, or put up with something unpleasant, often unwillingly; more common in formal or literary contexts.
- Base: suffer
- 3rd Person Singular: suffers
- Present Participle: suffering
- Past: suffered
suffer defeat
1Be beaten in competition
To lose a game, competition, or fight.
- The team suffered defeat in the final match.
- The army suffered defeat after a long battle.
suffer from
1Be affected by illness or problem
To have a disease, problem, or bad situation for a period of time.
- She suffers from asthma and needs an inhaler.
- Many small businesses are suffering from the economic slowdown.
suffer in silence
1Endure quietly without complaint
To have pain or problems but not talk about them to others.
- He suffered in silence for years before telling anyone about his condition.
- Many workers suffer in silence rather than risk losing their jobs.
suffer the consequences
1Face bad results of actions
To experience something bad because of what you did before.
- If you break the law, you must suffer the consequences.
- He made a poor choice and now he’s suffering the consequences.