forbearance
gb/fɔɹbˈɛɹəns/ us/fɔɹbˈɛɹəns/
C1
English
~ 9600
türelem, önmérséklet, fizetési haladék, fizetési haladékról szóló megállapodás
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
türelem
A2
önmérséklet
C1
Usage pattern:
to show forbearance toward [someone/something]
The teacher showed remarkable forbearance with the disruptive students.
A tanár figyelemre méltó türelmet tanúsított a rendetlenkedő diákokkal szemben.
He listened to their complaints with great forbearance and did not raise his voice once.
Nagy türelemmel hallgatta végig a panaszaikat, és egyszer sem emelte fel a hangját.
Her forbearance in the face of constant criticism earned her deep respect.
I ask for your forbearance while we work through these technical problems.
The neighbors thanked him for his forbearance during the long, noisy renovation.
Learner examples
The coach showed forbearance when the team made many mistakes.
Az edző türelmet tanúsított, amikor a csapat sok hibát követett el.
She answered the same question again and again with forbearance.
Újra meg újra türelemmel válaszolt ugyanarra a kérdésre.
Please have forbearance while we fix the problem.
He treated the rude customer with quiet forbearance.
They admired his forbearance when things went wrong.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *forbearance* in everyday casual speech where *patience* or *tolerance* is more natural. *Forbearance* is usually more formal and appears in writing, speeches, or polite requests (e.g., "We ask for your forbearance"). Learners may also confuse *forbearance* (noun) with *forebear* (noun, meaning ancestor) because they look similar.
Meaning
patient self-control and tolerance
Collocations
show forbearance
|exercise forbearance
|great forbearance
|with remarkable forbearance
|forbearance toward others
|a lack of forbearance
Synonyms
patience (More common everyday word; does not always include the idea of choosing not to punish or criticize.)
|
tolerance (Stresses accepting behavior or opinions you disagree with; forbearance more strongly suggests self-control under provocation.)
|
restraint (Focuses on holding back actions or words; forbearance adds an element of kindness or generosity.)
|
leniency (Often used when someone in authority chooses a softer punishment; forbearance can apply in any personal situation.)
Antonyms
impatience (Shows a lack of calm waiting or willingness to endure annoyance, opposite of calm self-control.)
|
intolerance (Refusal to accept others’ behavior or views, opposite of tolerant self-restraint.)
|
harshness (Rough, severe treatment or criticism instead of gentle restraint.)
Themes
emotions
|ethics
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The ability to stay calm and patient and not get angry or strict, especially when someone annoys you or treats you badly.
Calm and patient self-control that leads someone to avoid reacting angrily, strictly, or harshly, especially when provoked or treated unfairly.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
[type of loan] forbearance
During the pandemic, many homeowners applied for mortgage forbearance to pause their monthly payments.
A járvány idején sok lakástulajdonos jelzáloghitel-törlesztési haladékot kért, hogy szüneteltethesse a havi törlesztőrészleteit.
The bank offered a six‑month period of forbearance instead of immediately starting foreclosure proceedings.
A bank hat hónapos fizetési haladékot ajánlott fel ahelyett, hogy azonnal megindította volna a végrehajtási eljárást.
You must contact your lender to request student loan forbearance; it is not granted automatically.
Under the forbearance agreement, the company agreed to new reporting requirements in exchange for more time to repay its debt.
When the forbearance ends, all missed payments are still owed under the terms of the loan.
Learner examples
I called the bank to ask for mortgage forbearance.
Felhívtam a bankot, hogy jelzáloghitel-törlesztési haladékot kérjek.
The company signed a forbearance agreement with its lenders.
A cég fizetési haladékról szóló megállapodást írt alá a hitelezőivel.
Student loan forbearance can help people during money problems.
During forbearance, they did not have to make full payments.
After the forbearance period, the loan payments started again.
Common mistake:
Learners often think *forbearance* means that the debt is forgiven. In fact, forbearance usually only pauses or reduces payments for a time; the money is still owed. It is also easy to confuse *forbearance* with general words like *relief* or *help*, which are less precise in legal and financial contexts.
Meaning
temporary pause in enforcing debt
Collocations
loan forbearance
|mortgage forbearance
|student loan forbearance
|enter into forbearance
|forbearance agreement
|period of forbearance
Synonyms
deferment (Very close in financial contexts but often used more broadly for delayed obligations such as taxes or military service.)
|
payment relief (Informal phrase that captures the idea for general readers; less precise as a legal or financial term than *forbearance*.)
Antonyms
foreclosure (Opposite action where a lender takes a property because the borrower has not paid, instead of pausing enforcement.)
|
collection (Active attempt to get the money owed, which forbearance temporarily stops.)
Themes
business
|finance
|law
Definition
A special agreement where a bank or other lender lets a person stop or reduce payments for a time, without canceling the debt.
An agreement, especially in finance or law, in which a lender or other creditor temporarily does not enforce a borrower’s payment obligations or legal rights, usually under specified conditions.
Grammar
Dictionary form
forbearance
IPA
GB/fɔɹbˈɛɹəns/
US/fɔɹbˈɛɹəns/
Syllables & stress
for - bear - ance (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (bear)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: forbearance
- Plural: forbearance
Word family
Core family
forbear
verb C1
forbearing
adjective
Advanced or less common
forbearingly
adverb
Expressions
exercise forbearance
1/ˈɛksɚsˌaɪz fɔɹbˈɛɹəns/
fixed phrase
formal
choose to be patient and restrained
To decide to be patient and not act in a strict or angry way, even though you could.
Examples
- Judges are sometimes urged to exercise forbearance in cases involving first‑time offenders.
- The management agreed to exercise forbearance and not punish staff for minor delays during the transition.
show forbearance
1/ʃˈoʊ fɔɹbˈɛɹəns/
fixed phrase
formal
demonstrate patience and restraint
To act in a way that proves you are calm and patient and do not get angry or strict, even when something is difficult or annoying.
Examples
- We ask our customers to show forbearance while the website is being repaired.
- She showed great forbearance when her neighbor played loud music late at night.