forbearance
gb/fɔɹbˈɛɹəns/ us/fɔɹbˈɛɹəns/
C1
Anglais
~ 9600
Sens
0 sens
Nom
formal
C1
property
1
patient self-control and tolerance
The ability to stay calm and patient and not get angry or strict, especially when someone annoys you or treats you badly.
Schéma d’usage :
to show forbearance toward [someone/something]
Erreur fréquente :
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.
Synonymes
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.)
Antonymes
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.)
Collocations
show forbearance
|exercise forbearance
|great forbearance
|with remarkable forbearance
|forbearance toward others
|a lack of forbearance
Thèmes
emotions
|ethics
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The teacher showed remarkable forbearance with the disruptive students.
- He listened to their complaints with great forbearance and did not raise his voice once.
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The coach showed forbearance when the team made many mistakes.
- She answered the same question again and again with forbearance.
- Please have forbearance while we fix the problem.
- He treated the rude customer with quiet forbearance.
- They admired his forbearance when things went wrong.
Nom
technical
C2
relation
2
temporary pause in enforcing debt
A special agreement where a bank or other lender lets a person stop or reduce payments for a time, without canceling the debt.
Schéma d’usage :
[type of loan] forbearance
Erreur fréquente :
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.
Synonymes
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*.)
Antonymes
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.)
Collocations
loan forbearance
|mortgage forbearance
|student loan forbearance
|enter into forbearance
|forbearance agreement
|period of forbearance
Thèmes
business
|finance
|law
Exemples
- During the pandemic, many homeowners applied for mortgage forbearance to pause their monthly payments.
- The bank offered a six‑month period of forbearance instead of immediately starting foreclosure proceedings.
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I called the bank to ask for mortgage forbearance.
- The company signed a forbearance agreement with its lenders.
- 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.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
forbearance
API
GB/fɔɹbˈɛɹəns/
US/fɔɹbˈɛɹəns/
Syllabes et accentuation
for - bear - ance (3 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (bear)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: forbearance
- Plural: forbearance
Famille de mots
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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.